Flu shot and recurrence of F. lymphoma

lillyfield
lillyfield Member Posts: 8
edited March 2014 in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1
My husband has had a recurrence of f. lymphoma after a recent flu shot. Northwestern University Research Dept. said there was a 98% happening of f. lymphoma if one gets the regular flu shot. He had a clear cat scan in July of last year and within a few months a lump appeared in his groin area, which turned out to be f. lymphoma. Anyone else experienced this? lillyfield

Comments

  • winthefight
    winthefight Member Posts: 162
    #2
    flu shot
    Hi,

    I usually get an annual flu shot...My oncologist recommends it every year. I have never heard of any getting lymphoma from a flu shot. You may want to contact the LLS for more research on this topic. I have friends with all types of cancers and this is the first I've heard of it.

    Take care.
  • yesyes2
    yesyes2 Member Posts: 591
    #3
    Hi Lillyfield,
    Sorry to hear about your husband's recurrence. How is he doing now? Is he currently in treatment?

    It appears from reading the published journal that there is a high increased risk of both FNHL and DLBC with flu vaccines. The percentages you give are correct but not for it causing NHL but for it increasing your risk factors over the average persons risk factor without the flu vaccine. It's so confusing but there is a big difference between increasing your risk and causing a disease.

    I had the flu vaccine just prior to starting chemo for my recurrence at my doctor's suggestion. I was very concerned about getting the flu during chemo. I certainly will ask him about the study and may not of had the shot if I had read the research previously. However, I do feel it is probably a safe thing to do when you have a compromised immune system. And the flu vaccine is only 10% effect if you are doing chemo. I guess live and learn.

    Best to you and your husband.
    Leslie
  • lillyfield
    lillyfield Member Posts: 8
    #4
    yesyes2 said:

    Hi Lillyfield,
    Sorry to hear about your husband's recurrence. How is he doing now? Is he currently in treatment?

    It appears from reading the published journal that there is a high increased risk of both FNHL and DLBC with flu vaccines. The percentages you give are correct but not for it causing NHL but for it increasing your risk factors over the average persons risk factor without the flu vaccine. It's so confusing but there is a big difference between increasing your risk and causing a disease.

    I had the flu vaccine just prior to starting chemo for my recurrence at my doctor's suggestion. I was very concerned about getting the flu during chemo. I certainly will ask him about the study and may not of had the shot if I had read the research previously. However, I do feel it is probably a safe thing to do when you have a compromised immune system. And the flu vaccine is only 10% effect if you are doing chemo. I guess live and learn.

    Best to you and your husband.
    Leslie

    Thanks for your response
    Thanks for your response Leslie. My husband is on his 5th chemo infusion, one more to go. He will have a CT this coming Tuesday. He seems to be coping very well, as he did the first time the lymphoma first surfaced. We are working very diligently to make sure he keeps his immune system in good working order. I'm researching the computer and reading books to that end. This flu shot article really jolted us. My husband gave his oncologist a copy of the article too. Hope you are doing well. Keep in there. Best to you as well.

    Lynn (Lillyfield)
  • yesyes2
    yesyes2 Member Posts: 591
    #5
    lillyfield said:

    Thanks for your response
    Thanks for your response Leslie. My husband is on his 5th chemo infusion, one more to go. He will have a CT this coming Tuesday. He seems to be coping very well, as he did the first time the lymphoma first surfaced. We are working very diligently to make sure he keeps his immune system in good working order. I'm researching the computer and reading books to that end. This flu shot article really jolted us. My husband gave his oncologist a copy of the article too. Hope you are doing well. Keep in there. Best to you as well.

    Lynn (Lillyfield)

    Hi Lynn,

    I wanted to see how your husband did on his 5th chemo, and has he received the scan results by now? I hope everything went well. And that the scan results are good.
    I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. And the very best to you,
    Leslie
  • lillyfield
    lillyfield Member Posts: 8
    #6
    yesyes2 said:

    Hi Lynn,

    I wanted to see how your husband did on his 5th chemo, and has he received the scan results by now? I hope everything went well. And that the scan results are good.
    I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. And the very best to you,
    Leslie

    Hi Leslie. Nice to hear
    Hi Leslie. Nice to hear from you again. Well my husband has now been put on Treanda for swelling in his groin area. He has had 3 treatments, and feels worse now that he's on Treanda, and has many more to go. His back hurts, his appetite is waning, is not sleeping as well as he did, and his hair is thinning. He tolerated Rituxin pretty well, but Treanda seems to be worse for him. I certainly am trying to keep his appetite working and getting him to walk as much as he can before tiring. He can't do much before tiring, so I pitch in and keep things going. Good luck to all you good folks and may you all feel better soon. Hugs, Lynn

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