Avoiding crowds-how much of a hermit do you have to be with chemo and radiation

hopeful girl 1
hopeful girl 1 Member Posts: 454
edited March 2014 in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
I am on my 9th day post my 3rd chemo. Do I need to be avoiding crowds?
I pretty much live like a hermit. I see my boyfriend, and I only go to stores usually during day-have been out to eat just a couple of times.

Would it be bad to go to an adult league sport event game (of my boyfriend) or see a band at this time? Too much risk of crowds and picking up infection?

Please advise.

Comments

  • TiggersDoBounce
    TiggersDoBounce Member Posts: 408
    #2
    Avoiding Crowds
    Too tell you the truth, I only moderately paid much attention to this rule....I went to work the day after my chemos and got on with my life. I avoided crowds in the winter weather, but other than I bring my hand sanitizer avoid buffets at restaurant and take normal precautions.

    I say go for attending the sporting event....just my 2 cents!

    Laurie
  • kkstef
    kkstef Member Posts: 688 Member
    #3
    Avoiding crowds
    I pretty much did the same as Laurie mentioned. My dr. believed that one has to have a life and just use reasonable care unless my counts would get VERY low and then I would need to be more careful. I was more careful during high flu/cold season.

    I agree.....get out a bit.....and go see that game!

    Karen
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    #4
    kkstef said:

    Avoiding crowds
    I pretty much did the same as Laurie mentioned. My dr. believed that one has to have a life and just use reasonable care unless my counts would get VERY low and then I would need to be more careful. I was more careful during high flu/cold season.

    I agree.....get out a bit.....and go see that game!

    Karen

    I was out & about
    My doc didn't mention to watch the crowds, but a good friend of mine did. Her sister had chemo and was a huge worrier and just tried to stress me out. I just can't sit so if I felt good I did go out. Now don't get me wrong when I did go out, was watchful of the sneezy people around me and placing my hands on the shopping cart handles.

    I did just fine without being paranoid of germs. Just go about your life as normal, watching where you put your hands and the sneezy people around you...you'll be just fine.
  • hopeful girl 1
    hopeful girl 1 Member Posts: 454
    #5
    jazzy1 said:

    I was out & about
    My doc didn't mention to watch the crowds, but a good friend of mine did. Her sister had chemo and was a huge worrier and just tried to stress me out. I just can't sit so if I felt good I did go out. Now don't get me wrong when I did go out, was watchful of the sneezy people around me and placing my hands on the shopping cart handles.

    I did just fine without being paranoid of germs. Just go about your life as normal, watching where you put your hands and the sneezy people around you...you'll be just fine.

    Maybe you guys are right. My
    Maybe you guys are right. My doctor did tell me no need to live in a plastic bubble.
    It's just that normally before the diagnosis, I tend to catch colds easily, sore throats, and am bronchitis prone. I tend to get this at least 3 times a year-so I am paranoid about not catching anything.

    But I am bored being a hermit also.
  • susafina
    susafina Member Posts: 131
    #6
    hopeful girl 1 said:

    Maybe you guys are right. My
    Maybe you guys are right. My doctor did tell me no need to live in a plastic bubble.
    It's just that normally before the diagnosis, I tend to catch colds easily, sore throats, and am bronchitis prone. I tend to get this at least 3 times a year-so I am paranoid about not catching anything.

    But I am bored being a hermit also.

    avoiding crowds
    No need to live like a hermit. Matter of fact it is important to get some fresh air. Remember your counts are the lowest 10 to 14 days post chemo. It is really your white count that you want to be concerned about as far as infections are concernsed.When it goes below 1 is when tou should be the most concerned. When your counts are the lowest,this is called the "nadir" period. After that your counts slowly come back to normal. For this time just use common sense. Avoid anyone that may be sick. Avoid crowds if you are in a closed space, Like a mall. An outdoor activity is fine like in a stadium because you are in the open air. Avoid fresh fruit that you cannot peel.Your counts will come back usually in about 2 weeks post the nadir period that is about 4 weeks post chemo.
    SUE
  • Songflower
    Songflower Member Posts: 608
    #7
    susafina said:

    avoiding crowds
    No need to live like a hermit. Matter of fact it is important to get some fresh air. Remember your counts are the lowest 10 to 14 days post chemo. It is really your white count that you want to be concerned about as far as infections are concernsed.When it goes below 1 is when tou should be the most concerned. When your counts are the lowest,this is called the "nadir" period. After that your counts slowly come back to normal. For this time just use common sense. Avoid anyone that may be sick. Avoid crowds if you are in a closed space, Like a mall. An outdoor activity is fine like in a stadium because you are in the open air. Avoid fresh fruit that you cannot peel.Your counts will come back usually in about 2 weeks post the nadir period that is about 4 weeks post chemo.
    SUE

    Avoiding Crowds
    Are they giving you neulasta or neupogen? These stimulate white blood cells sooner. When I had my first chemos they did not give it to me but had me stay away from crowds during "nadir" or when the neutraphils fall. Ask for a copy of your labs each time. During the winter they did not let me go to my daughters school play; someone taped it for me. But it was flu season and they thought it was too risky. Church is a big place for colds and sneezes. I think the American Cancer Society has some good tips on this too if you search. I took neulasta this last time and didn't avoid crowds at all as I had some white cells right away. This did make me more comfortable. What I had a hard time with is avoiding gardening and plants because of fungus and molds which can be difficult to treat. Balance living with some common sense during this period. During flu season I got a flu shot and used some common sense and was more of a hermit during the swine flu time. But it's summer and sunshine with it's great radiation kills alot of germs. Hope this helps.


    Diane
  • hopeful girl 1
    hopeful girl 1 Member Posts: 454
    #8
    Songflower said:

    Avoiding Crowds
    Are they giving you neulasta or neupogen? These stimulate white blood cells sooner. When I had my first chemos they did not give it to me but had me stay away from crowds during "nadir" or when the neutraphils fall. Ask for a copy of your labs each time. During the winter they did not let me go to my daughters school play; someone taped it for me. But it was flu season and they thought it was too risky. Church is a big place for colds and sneezes. I think the American Cancer Society has some good tips on this too if you search. I took neulasta this last time and didn't avoid crowds at all as I had some white cells right away. This did make me more comfortable. What I had a hard time with is avoiding gardening and plants because of fungus and molds which can be difficult to treat. Balance living with some common sense during this period. During flu season I got a flu shot and used some common sense and was more of a hermit during the swine flu time. But it's summer and sunshine with it's great radiation kills alot of germs. Hope this helps.


    Diane

    Thanks all!
    One thing I am
    Thanks all!
    One thing I am confused about is if I get the chemo every three weeks, and the counts come back up at four weeks then I am already getting another chemo.
    I get the blood work at two weeks and third week another blood test CBC and then chemo again. However since I finished third chemo and I am doing the sandwich therapy now I start radiation in a couple of weeks.
    How are counts during radiation?

    Peace and healing to all.
  • hopeful girl 1
    hopeful girl 1 Member Posts: 454
    #9
    Songflower said:

    Avoiding Crowds
    Are they giving you neulasta or neupogen? These stimulate white blood cells sooner. When I had my first chemos they did not give it to me but had me stay away from crowds during "nadir" or when the neutraphils fall. Ask for a copy of your labs each time. During the winter they did not let me go to my daughters school play; someone taped it for me. But it was flu season and they thought it was too risky. Church is a big place for colds and sneezes. I think the American Cancer Society has some good tips on this too if you search. I took neulasta this last time and didn't avoid crowds at all as I had some white cells right away. This did make me more comfortable. What I had a hard time with is avoiding gardening and plants because of fungus and molds which can be difficult to treat. Balance living with some common sense during this period. During flu season I got a flu shot and used some common sense and was more of a hermit during the swine flu time. But it's summer and sunshine with it's great radiation kills alot of germs. Hope this helps.


    Diane

    Thanks all!
    One thing I am
    Thanks all!
    One thing I am confused about is if I get the chemo every three weeks, and the counts come back up at four weeks then I am already getting another chemo.
    I get the blood work at two weeks and third week another blood test CBC and then chemo again. However since I finished third chemo and I am doing the sandwich therapy now I start radiation in a couple of weeks.
    How are counts during radiation?

    Peace and healing to all.
  • hopeful girl 1
    hopeful girl 1 Member Posts: 454
    #10
    Songflower said:

    Avoiding Crowds
    Are they giving you neulasta or neupogen? These stimulate white blood cells sooner. When I had my first chemos they did not give it to me but had me stay away from crowds during "nadir" or when the neutraphils fall. Ask for a copy of your labs each time. During the winter they did not let me go to my daughters school play; someone taped it for me. But it was flu season and they thought it was too risky. Church is a big place for colds and sneezes. I think the American Cancer Society has some good tips on this too if you search. I took neulasta this last time and didn't avoid crowds at all as I had some white cells right away. This did make me more comfortable. What I had a hard time with is avoiding gardening and plants because of fungus and molds which can be difficult to treat. Balance living with some common sense during this period. During flu season I got a flu shot and used some common sense and was more of a hermit during the swine flu time. But it's summer and sunshine with it's great radiation kills alot of germs. Hope this helps.


    Diane

    Thanks all!
    One thing I am
    Thanks all!
    One thing I am confused about is if I get the chemo every three weeks, and the counts come back up at four weeks then I am already getting another chemo.
    I get the blood work at two weeks and third week another blood test CBC and then chemo again. However since I finished third chemo and I am doing the sandwich therapy now I start radiation in a couple of weeks.
    How are counts during radiation?

    Peace and healing to all.

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