To flu or not to flu

faith_trust_and_a_little_bit_of_chemotherapy
faith_trust_and_a_little_bit_of_chemotherapy Member Posts: 319 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Flu shots.

...flu season is coming...I've never had a flu shot before, and even declined one whilst exiting the hospital in February.

I understand radiation won't effect it, so my radiologist claims. I need to get 'Ye Olde Port" flushed next week anyway and thought I'd ask the hematologist.

I was running a slight temperature yesterday with body aches and it dawned on me that sometimes it might not be side effects, but an old fashioned bug. I took two Tylenol PMs hit the sheets for about 11 hours and felt much improved this morning....but still I am wondering...

Any anecdotes, opinions, statistics, or really scary flu stories to share?

Comments

  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #2
    Dunno, but
    in the stack of chemo information I got, it says not to have any immunizations while on chemo unless you ask your oncologist.

    I have a friend who had a flu vaccine while on chemo - and she got the flu.

    But you're not on chemo, right? I'd still ask my oncologist first.

    Suzanne
  • Bella Luna
    Bella Luna Member Posts: 1,578 Member
    #3
    I can tell you that my
    I can tell you that my Oncologist and Infectious Diseases Doctor( I developed a staph infection on my incision)both suggested I have a flu and N1H1 shoot. I didn't want to take any chances, so I had both shots. I was vaccinated before starting with chemo.

    Most likely I will bow out this year from having any shots. I am done with treatments and am waiting to have my port removed. I think it is smart to ask your hematologist. They could tell you better.

    Take care, God bless.
    BL
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #4
    Bella Luna said:

    I can tell you that my
    I can tell you that my Oncologist and Infectious Diseases Doctor( I developed a staph infection on my incision)both suggested I have a flu and N1H1 shoot. I didn't want to take any chances, so I had both shots. I was vaccinated before starting with chemo.

    Most likely I will bow out this year from having any shots. I am done with treatments and am waiting to have my port removed. I think it is smart to ask your hematologist. They could tell you better.

    Take care, God bless.
    BL

    I had the flu shot and the
    I had the flu shot and the H1N1 last year, in between AC and taxol. I was really worried about getting the flu with my compromised immune system. I had a fever on and off for three weeks, and wondered if it was the H1N1, but it could have been my bodies reaction to the taxol too.
  • mariam_11_09
    mariam_11_09 Member Posts: 691 Member
    #5
    Double Whammy said:

    Dunno, but
    in the stack of chemo information I got, it says not to have any immunizations while on chemo unless you ask your oncologist.

    I have a friend who had a flu vaccine while on chemo - and she got the flu.

    But you're not on chemo, right? I'd still ask my oncologist first.

    Suzanne

    I got the same information


    I got the same information from my Onc. He told me to have the flu shot before chemo, if I was going to have one. He said it was too risky to have it while on chemo in case I have a reaction to it.

    I chose not to have one and won't have one this fall either. I have never had flu shots. I rarely get flu, if ever. Okay after saying that lets hope I don't get it.

    I second Suzaane, ask your Onc. just to make sure.
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159 Member
    #6
    I have gotten flu shots for
    I have gotten flu shots for as long as I can remember them being offered. My husband (now Ex) is an RN, and always brought home enough vaccine for me and any other friends/family who needed/wanted a shot~ so I DID get a flu shot while on chemo~ it was recommended by my oncologist. I have gotten one every year and having cancer/chemo did not change the routine for me. I had a pneumonia and a flu shot one year...the only "problem" was convincing the RN at Rite Aid to give me both shots in the same arm!
    With everything else happening to my body, I did not want to compound any problems by also getting the flu while my white cells were depleted. I plan on getting one this year as well!

    Hugs,
    Chen♥
  • Pinkpower
    Pinkpower Member Posts: 437
    #7
    Thats a good question, Ive
    Thats a good question, Ive gotten 2 small colds in the pst 3wks, im def going to ask my onc if I should get a flu shot this year.

    Lupe
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #8
    I've never had the flu
    but when I landed in the hospital with a shattered shoulder 4 years ago I've gotten the flu shot each year since. However, my reading material also said no flu injections while undergoing treatment. I just had my 2nd chemo and my oncologist won't let my rheumatologist inject my knee with anything either. I'll just take my chances this year. Fortunately the Neulasta shot I get the day after chemo has kept my white blood cells well elevated so hopefully I won't be suseptible to anyone's germs.
    Char
  • jamiegww
    jamiegww Member Posts: 384 Member
    #9
    I got a flu shot yesterday.
    I finished chemo in May. My primary doc asked me to get a colonoscopy and a flu shot so I got the colonoscopy on Tuesday and the flu shot yesterday. In years past, I would take time to evaluate whether or not I wanted to do whatever a doctor suggested but now if a doctor says jump I will quickly ask how high. Cancer changes us in so many ways.

    I hope you're feeling better today!
    Jamie
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #10
    Flu Shots...Combined vaccines this year
    I took the "regualar" flu shot last year after chemo but during radiation.......did not take the H1Ni though....This year the flu shot contains 3 different vaccines, including the H1N1......so if you do NOT want the H1N1, be sure to make that understood as you can get just the "regualar" one. I plan on taking it again this year....
  • mwallace1325
    mwallace1325 Member Posts: 806
    #11
    Last year
    Last year during chemo my onc said the flu shot was OK, but not the swine flu shote. I guess the swine flue one contained live cultures or something and I didn't need at the time. I'd check to be sure because every year the shot is different for different strains.

    marge
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #12
    mwallace1325 said:

    Last year
    Last year during chemo my onc said the flu shot was OK, but not the swine flu shote. I guess the swine flue one contained live cultures or something and I didn't need at the time. I'd check to be sure because every year the shot is different for different strains.

    marge

    Shot
    I was told to get the shot. My Onc made that very clear.
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #13
    Kat11 said:

    Shot
    I was told to get the shot. My Onc made that very clear.

    A common misconception is
    A common misconception is the neulasta shot maintains your WBC. It does not, it just stimulates your bone marrow to make the cells faster, so you can have chemo more often. Your WBC still drops, and can get quite low, and you could still be vulnerable to infection. I plan on getting a flu shot this year as well.
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294 Member
    #14
    carkris said:

    A common misconception is
    A common misconception is the neulasta shot maintains your WBC. It does not, it just stimulates your bone marrow to make the cells faster, so you can have chemo more often. Your WBC still drops, and can get quite low, and you could still be vulnerable to infection. I plan on getting a flu shot this year as well.

    I did not
    have a flu shot since my diagnosis. Since you Teresa work with children you probably need one. I would wait until finishing radiation. By the end of the treatments my body was reacted to everything invasive, like it could not take any invasion anymore. Even a minor cut needed 3 weeks to heal.
    Hugs,
    New Flower
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #15
    New Flower said:

    I did not
    have a flu shot since my diagnosis. Since you Teresa work with children you probably need one. I would wait until finishing radiation. By the end of the treatments my body was reacted to everything invasive, like it could not take any invasion anymore. Even a minor cut needed 3 weeks to heal.
    Hugs,
    New Flower

    Faith, Hope and Sass .. Yes I agree with our 'delicate
    wonderful Flower' - working with children .. I would get the shot! Not to mention all your after school activities - like chasing the neighborhood kids off your lawn - or hiding their skateboards ..

    Just my humble opinion :-D


    Vicki Sam
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294 Member
    #16
    VickiSam said:

    Faith, Hope and Sass .. Yes I agree with our 'delicate
    wonderful Flower' - working with children .. I would get the shot! Not to mention all your after school activities - like chasing the neighborhood kids off your lawn - or hiding their skateboards ..

    Just my humble opinion :-D


    Vicki Sam

    Vicki
    you made me smile. Thanks

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