Continuous Infusion Chemotherapy — Going Home With a Pump
Being sent home attached to a pump is frightening when no one has explained what it is doing or what to do if something goes wrong. This page tells you how the pump works, what you can do while wearing it, and who to call if it alarms.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed September 2026
- The pump is the treatment — It delivers chemotherapy slowly and continuously over hours or days — the timing is part of how the drug works.
- Going home is planned — For certain regimens, wearing the pump at home is the intended design, not an oversight or shortcut.
- You can move normally — You can sleep, eat, and move around the house. There are a few things to avoid, and they are straightforward.
- Alarms have specific meanings — Most pump alarms are resolved in seconds. Knowing what each one means before it happens is the point of this page.
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Some chemotherapy drugs work best when delivered slowly over days, not as a single short drip. A portable pump holds the drug and releases it continuously through a line already placed in your body. This means you can be at home while treatment is running — sleeping in your own bed, moving around normally.
How does a chemotherapy infusion pump work?
The pump holds the chemotherapy drug and releases it slowly through a thin tube connected to a central line — usually a PICC line, a port, or a Hickman catheter placed by your team before treatment started.
There are two common types. An elastomeric pump is a soft balloon inside a hard casing; the balloon contracts gradually to push the drug through at a fixed rate, with no motor or battery needed. An electronic pump uses a small motor, shows a display, and beeps if anything changes.
You carry the pump in a small shoulder bag or waist pouch. The tubing runs under your clothing. The pump itself is light enough to sleep with.
Can you go home while chemotherapy is still running?
For certain regimens — fluorouracil (5-FU) based chemotherapy is the most common example — going home with the pump running is how the treatment is designed to work. Your oncologist will tell you how long the infusion runs and when to return for disconnection.
You can sleep in your own bed, eat normally, and move around the house. Avoid anything that could pull the line: heavy lifting, contact sports, or activities that could wet the connection site.
Disconnection is always done by a trained nurse — at the clinic, or at home if a home nursing visit has been arranged. Never disconnect the pump yourself, even if the infusion looks finished.
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What should you check every day while wearing the pump?
- Check the entry site each morningLook for redness, swelling, leaking fluid, or new pain where the line enters your body. Any of these means call the clinic today.
- Check the tubing for kinksMake sure the tube from the pump to the entry site is not kinked, twisted, or trapped under your body while you sleep.
- Keep the entry site dryCover it before showering with the waterproof dressing your nurse will give you. Do not submerge the site in water.
- Keep the pump at body temperatureAvoid placing it near a heat source, in direct sunlight, or in a cold car. Temperature changes can affect the flow rate.
- Do not adjust the pumpDo not press buttons you were not shown how to use, open the casing, or squeeze an elastomeric pump. Call the clinic if something looks different.
What does it mean when the pump alarms?
The pump is beeping continuously
A continuous beep usually means the device has detected a blockage or kink in the tubing, or — on electronic pumps — a low battery. First, check the tubing from the pump to the entry site for any visible kink and straighten it gently. If the alarm continues after 30 seconds, call the clinic number your team gave you before you left. Do not press buttons you were not shown how to use.
There is wetness or fluid around the entry site
Wetness at or near the entry site can mean the drug is leaking rather than entering your bloodstream. Use the clamp on the tubing that your nurse will have shown you, cover the site with a clean dry cloth, and call the clinic emergency number immediately. Do not wait to see whether the leak stops on its own — drug leaking outside the vein needs assessment now.
The pump display has gone blank or the device has stopped
If the display goes blank or the pump appears to have stopped, do not try to restart it yourself. Keep the tubing intact and connected, and call your oncology team. An electronic pump that stops needs to be assessed by a nurse before the infusion continues. Do not assume the treatment has simply finished early — the timing of disconnection is always confirmed by your team.
The entry site looks red, swollen, or is painful
Redness, swelling, warmth, or new pain around the entry site can be a sign of infection or that the line has shifted position. Call the clinic on the same day. If you also have a fever, go to the emergency department rather than waiting for a callback — infection around a central line is treated as urgent and you should not wait.
The line has moved or partially come out
If the line looks shorter than before, or has clearly moved from where it was placed, do not push it back in. Keep the site as still as possible, cover it with a clean dry cloth, and call the clinic immediately. If the line has come out completely, apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth to the site and go to the nearest emergency department without delay.
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Frequently asked questions
Which chemotherapy drugs are given by portable pump?
Fluorouracil (5-FU), used in regimens such as FOLFOX and FOLFIRI, is the drug most often given by portable pump, because it works better when released slowly over time rather than in a short session. Other drugs may also be given this way, depending on your regimen. Your oncologist will tell you the name of the drug, how long the infusion runs, and when you need to return for disconnection.
Will I be able to sleep with the pump attached?
Yes. The pump is designed to be worn through the night. Place it beside you on the bed or keep it in the pouch against your body, whichever your nurse recommends. Check before sleeping that the tubing is not trapped under you or kinked. Most people adjust within a night or two and find it easier than they expected.
What if I accidentally disconnect the line at home?
Clamp the tubing immediately using the clamp your nurse will have shown you. Do not try to reconnect it yourself. Call the clinic number you were given, even outside business hours. Central line connections must be reassembled under sterile conditions to prevent infection. Keep the disconnected end covered with a clean cloth until a nurse can assess it.
Can I travel or go far from the city while wearing the pump?
Discuss this with your oncology team before making any plans. Short travel within easy reach of your clinic is usually possible. Travelling far from the centre managing your care is more complicated — the pump needs to be disconnected by a trained nurse on a specific schedule, and if an alarm or site problem arises you need rapid access to care. Your team will advise on what is safe for your situation.
How do I shower or bathe while the pump is attached?
Your nurse will give you a waterproof cover for the entry site before you leave the clinic. Cover the site and keep the pump itself out of the water stream — the pouch is not waterproof. Do not bathe in a tub or swim while the pump is running, as full immersion is not safe for the entry site. If the dressing becomes wet or comes away, call the clinic rather than leaving the site uncovered.
Is the drug inside the pump safe for my family?
The drug is sealed inside the pump and not a risk through normal contact. The main precaution is that your body processes the drug and excretes small amounts through urine and other body fluids for a period after the infusion ends. Your team will give you specific guidance — typically around toilet hygiene and handling clothing. Follow those instructions and ask if anything is unclear.
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