My Sister has just had her first shot of immunotherapy. She has cancer of the lung. She has finished the chemo now, so when can I visit and hug her? She has to have this treatment for 2 years, have I really got to wait this long! I live in Birmingham she is n Oxford. So it has not been easy!
Hi siblingloveyou
Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to the Online Community. I’m Fiona one of the Cancer Information nurse Specialists here on the Macmillan Support Line.
I can appreciate that it’ll have not been easy staying away from your sister while she has been having chemotherapy for her lung cancer.
Immunotherapy treatments for lung cancer do come with side effects. There are a few different types used for lung cancer and they have varying side effects including an impact on the immune system. It would be a good idea for your sister to ask her oncologist if there are any special precautions she needs to take.
In general, though the whole point of treatment with immunotherapy is to hopefully allow your sister to get on with her usual life with as few side effects as possible. I’m sure that she will be keen to have you visit and get that long awaited hug.
You can do everything you can to protect her by following covid precautions and good hygiene measures. All of which I am sure you would be doing already. You may also want to consider taking a lateral flow test prior to visiting as an extra precaution.
If your sister is worried then she should chat this through with her oncology team who I’m sure would be supportive of a visit with every precaution in place to minimise any risk.
I hope you get a visit with your sister organised soon.
If you want to talk things through, then please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are open 7 days a week from 8am till 8pm. Our number is 0808 808 0000.
Best wishes,
Fiona
Macmillan Cancer Information Nurse Specialist
Our ref: AM
