Covid Vaccine

dt,

My view is that getting any vaccine is better than not.   The COVID vaccine is rated at 90% or higher effectiveness, which is much higher than most annual flu shots, and well above the FDA requirement for effectiveness.    Not only all vaccines, but even all medicines of any sort, potentially have side-effects,  just not very common ones.

I cannot get the shot because I am 64 currently, and SC is requiring lay citizens to be 70 or older to schedule at the moment.  \

Covid used to be a disease; now, it is an industry 

don

Evarista said:

Routine Screening Mammograms too

This swelling of regional nodes has been reported extensively, particularly after the 2nd shot.  My breast center (NCI-designated canter center) is now rescheduling routine screening mammograms to at least 6 weeks post 2nd vaccine.

Dbl vaxed w/Moderna in left delt but if I had to do again, I'd receive the shots in my thigh.  (I chose left axilla to satisfy an itch explained below).
Within 8hrs of shot, remaining nodes in left axilla (where I was biopsied) eventually enlarged to size of chick peas and became sensitive (painful to the touch).
Took almost two weeks after 1st dose and same timeline after 2nd dose for nodes to return to their unique post-trtmnt size.

Background/Depth: Original lumps that first gave me suspicion of Lymphoma were in this left axilla. (hence "ground zero")
They were stone-like (and the size of half-domed golfball) by time I was biopsied.

The two ("grossly enlarged" per the radiologist) nodes left after surgical biopsy remained stone-like thru the 5th cycle before they began to shrink and soften to consistency of firm green peas (and how they remain to this day).
***All other bumps, lumps (I had a LOT of them) melted away/vanished before my 3rd cycle (of 6)***
Interim Pet (after 2nd cycle) and final PET (3mths after trtmnt) indicated no SUV activity.

When I asked if these specific axilla nodes continue to "function" to fight infection, I recall a muddled answer (My thought, if they work great, if not, let's remove them with radiation).
I think I got my answer  - they function (selecting the left delt to recv vax was just for that reason... to see if those nodes function - though warily cognizant of poking the bear)

dtat67 said:

Thought I would update on this issue

I received my 2nd Covid vaccine (Moderna) on 2/25. I was scheduled for a followup CT scan (STN) for my 2 year checkup on 3/19 with a followup on 3/25 to discuss the results. This would have been 3 weeks since the last shot. I got a call from my Oncologist office to tell me that they would like me to postpone the CT scan appointment for another 2 weeks because there have been instances of swollen lymph nodes cause by the vaccine. It seems that the swelling is not to the point that you can feel it but enough to be "false positive" on the CT scan.

I'm thankful that my caregivers are proactive enough to suggest this change.

Peace

This swelling of regional nodes has been reported extensively, particularly after the 2nd shot.  My breast center (NCI-designated canter center) is now rescheduling routine screening mammograms to at least 6 weeks post 2nd vaccine.

I got my first Covid vaccine yesterday, the Pfizer version. Secheduled for dose II in about three weeks.   It was quick and easy, and zero side-effects thus far.

I have had serious Lymhadenopathy for at least six months now, due to an autoimmune condition known as P.T.G.C., so I WILL continue to have widespread enlarged nodes.  It will be interesting if anything much happens or changes, short term.

While my charts have been marked "Autoimmune Compromised" for many years, I have not had the flu in ten or more years, virtually never get even mild colds, and never got COVID, despite working full-time in public throughout the shutdown.  I am thankful, of course.   But the sky is not falling.

My husband & I just got our second shot of the Pfizer vaccine. Arm a little sore, just like after the first shot. The only other thing was about 3 hours after the shot I was feeling bloated for a while. I'll see how the night goes.

lindary said:

COVID vaccine

My husband & I just got our second shot of the Pfizer vaccine. Arm a little sore, just like after the first shot. The only other thing was about 3 hours after the shot I was feeling bloated for a while. I'll see how the night goes.

Second day wasn't too bad. I was achy and tired but not so much I couldn't do anything. I just limited what I did. Seems to be standard reaction for older women.  Intersting was that our youngest got her shots in Feb. She said she stayed in bed for about a day & half with the aches and tiredness.  

dtat67 said:

Had my 2 year CT scan

I had my two year CT scan last week and the Dr. was kind enough to "publish" the results online prior to my appointment next week. It looks like I am NED. Thankfully I have recovered from my initial treatment, Chemo (RCHOP) and Radiation, without another recurrence.  Nor sure what the future holds but I am thankful. Now going forward I hope my Bladder cancer cystosocopy comes back cool. 

Like I tell my nephew - I'm 70 yo and I'm doing pretty good considering I have been diagnosed with two kinds of Cancer and am still doing well. I can only hope this is the case going forward but predicting the future is impossible. I am thankful for each and every day.

Peace and Love,

Dave

Wonderful news, Dave.   Your results, and your attitudes, are the best