H1N1 Vaccine

Get it!
My plan is to get a H1N1 shot as soon as I can! It's been year since I had a bad flu, but I remember how awful it was, and would not want to go through it while I am on chemo.

I had the first "regular" flu shot that my family practice doctor gave out, and also had a pneumonia shot that day; the H1N1 should complete the array.

There will always be nay-sayers about anything promoted for public safety or health. I'll put myself in my doctors' hands anytime over Joe Blow!

Not for me
My oncologist won't give me either on while I'm on chemo. Saundra

Second opinion on that
Hi tn, I had a different kind of cancer long ago and am not in treatment but generally I think that getting the H1N1 during treatment carries a big question mark. For that reason, if it was me, I would seek a second and maybe even third opinion from a couple of other oncologists if you can. You might not even have to see them, just ask their offices - ones that deal with your kind of cancer - what are they telling their patients?

I am not in treatment as I said and had lymphoma years ago but my GP wanted me to have the H1N1 and I got it as I have many medical conditions but for me I had a real reaction at the site of the shot that actually is still going on a tiny bit and I had the shot 2 weeks ago. At the site it became very red in a large patch and hard under the shot itself and a little sore but when I asked the nurse hotline for H1N1 here if that is normal for this shot she said that it is and they are seeing more of this redness and soreness than with regular flu shots. She said that it is the 'adjuvent' the part that boosts the immune system that is probably doing it. They don't usually put it in flu shots but we get it in some other shots apparently.

I am not saying don't get it of course, only your docs can decide whats right for you, and I am in Canada so maybe you guys in the States don't even get the adjuvent, and of course every person's health situation is different but my point is again, get some other specialists opinion on whether you should or shouldnt get it.

Also simply ask your oncologist who wants you to get the shot why he feels its a good idea for you to get it, get him to tell you what his reasoning is, many doctors don't go through their reasonings because they think patients won't understand but if they do tell us why then our decisions can become clearer. We are smarter than they think. Wink, wink. lol
In general all the deaths from H1N1 here have been in people with pre existing conditions so it's not an easy question to answer - should I or shouldn't I - when you have those conditions.

The H1N1 is the same as other flu shots in the makeup with just the new virus componant that is different. All the best, Bluerose

flu shots
My oncologist let me get a flu shot last year (my first) as I was NED, chemo was done. But this year she said no H1N1 while on chemo and if I really wanted the regular flu shot I had to time it between chemos! But since I am always off schedule, I am just not going to chance it.

I am washing, washing, washing my hands. Gargling with salt water twice a day. Q-tip in salt water to clean nostrils after blowing my nose. And plenty of warm liquids to wash all down into the stomach where virus will not live. Also vitamin C with zinc. And common sense about being in crowds.

We go to church a little late, sit in back and leave after prayer but before last song. No hand shaking at all. Now I am really a hugger and some kisses ☺ so this has been hard on me. But you know church, schools, malls, and grocery store are some of the worse places where people sick.

But we are all different and each of our doctors seem to have something a little different to say about everything, too!!

In His Grip,
Libby