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Have finished chemo (topotecan) oct. 15. Not sure if I should get flu shot and/or H1N1 shot. One nurse says yes, I can; another said chemo patients should wait 3 months after finishing protocol.
rhodaf@maine.rr.com
I've been on chemo for almost a year now (Doxil, Topotecan and now Avastin & Cytoxan) and my onc. did give me the regular flu shot a couple of weeks ago. There didn't seem to be any hesitation and the nurses seem to agree. Not sure about H1N1 and will ask them when I go this week.
Good luck. Hope the Topo worked for you.
Wasn't doxil awful? I had horrible rashes on thighs, arms, belly and mouth sores and they had to change and finish up on gemzar. Just finished topotecan and awaiting Nov. 5 CAT. Topo just gave me fatigue but also affected my wbc (had shots after chemo for three days) and platelets. And rbc. Always somewhat anemic, but that doesn't seem to bother doc. No matter what CAT shows, doc says I need a rest from chemo and he'll put me on pill, leukoran?
Keep getting recurrences so have been on chemo off and on since Feb '07.
I went and asked my primary doctor, cancer doctors and a friends doctor. They all said it was vital I got both and did. I am really active. I go out a lot so for me I knew it be vital.
I also look at it like this. What we get for chemo is poison in a sense, how bad can those shots be? might as well be safe than sorry. I also suggest a Pneomonia shot, I got that too.
I got the seasonal shot as soon as they gave it out. As soon as I can find H1N1, I will get that also. The doctor says I should have it because I am still on chemo and am more vulnerable than others.
My onc says that I only need my regular flu shot which I rec'd 2 weeks ago. She says that I don't need H1N1 because I am over 55. I think I'm going to get it anyway.
Was just in for chemo yesterday. Oncologist said yes to seasonal flu, no to HiNi.
Jeanie
There were moments when Doxil was a real challenge. I did fine the first 2-3 months and then alot of issues started - mouth sores, tight throat, burned skin on the backs on my heels. I had to get a 2-week chemo break to let them calm down. My skin still hasn't completely recovered from it and my last treatment was back at the end of June. It worked for 6 months and then stopped.
Topo was more tolerable, but it affected by blood counts. It was the first time my platelets were ever affected in all these years, but they recovered in time, as did the white and red cells. I also had fatigue. It's too bad it didn't work at all for me - I was on it for 2 months.
Hope you get some good news with your upcoming scan and can get a break!
I got the regular seasonal flu and pneumonia two weeks ago. My son came home with what they believe in the area to be H1N1 and I didn't get sick so was happy about that. From what I've read it is affecting the younger generation worst and it is believed that if you're over 49 the risk is minimal as we might have had some previous exposure that built up antibodies. So I've decided I'm not going to worry so much about that one, especially since it has been hard to come by in our region and we've already weathered that storm in our house. If my oncologist tells me differently when I see him in two weeks then I'll get it.
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