What about infection?

Hi

I was 'lucky' in that my chemo was pre covid (late 2019), I looked after myself and still got infections...both candida (many times in various parts of body, easily treated) and a very high temp requiring me to be in hospital (felt fine after a day).  I guess what I'm trying to say is be careful but accept that you may very well get infections regardless and I personally wouldn't totally put my life on hold during this challenging time when you will definitely benefit from the support of others and seeing those who bring cheer.

Obviously no-one wants to get covid and you don't know how it will impact you but I would hope (she wrote optimistically) that being sensible would prevent this.  I would certainly avoid crowded places, gyms, supermarkets & shops if I were you but do get out & about in the countryside, it will help you get through the chemo (and the dog will be very grateful!) , exercise really helped me.

Good luck 

Hi, I've just come through 6 cycles on chemo and was fortunate to avoid any infection. Whilst I was able to work from home,  I didn't shield. I asked my consultant what she'd advise pre-Covid and she said basically to avoid anyone who was ill, so I based my decisions on that.  I’d suggest having a Frank ans open chat with your nursing team or consultant about your concerns and taking their advice.  By the way, my consultant was quite insistent I didn't pick up the dog poo and avoided unpasteurised foods (like pregnancy) and I did follow that quite strictly.  Hope this helps 

I'm always out walking since finishing work I am fitter now than I have ever been, thanks for the advice I am happy for you that your on the other side of this and I will be soon!

Seriously?? I'm so upset in my head I'm not going to see my children or grandchildren for months, I'm not going to see my sister (who I walk with every day) or my brothers and friends, my sister's husband recently passed away with covid so I am terrified of getting that my immune system will just not be there I thought. This has all happened so bloomin fast I am speaking to the oncologist next week so maybe I won't be so upset then, thanks for the advice my husband can sort out the dog poo, and we'll done on getting through it, if you had 6 cycles how long did that take?

Being careful and sensible is surely the answer here, wear a mask if you’re mixing (outdoors and not closely) with anyone you don’t normally meet, get deliveries of foods etc and get your husband to carry through clean and unpack to put away. Get him to deal with your dog poo of course…..let folk know, too, that you’re at risk and therefore to stay away if they have any symptoms of ANY illness. 

If it’s any help our daughter had a different though easily as tough chemo for a blood cancer, she was just very sensible, she continued working as a freelance musician during her ‘good’ week but didn’t pick up any infection needing treatment. She’s since been through a donor bone marrow transplant going into the winter months and even then only one infection needing hospital admission during her first year which is the most dangerous time (normally they say about 3 illnesses) but a quite severe pneumonia afterwards, she’s still here though! 

I started chemo on 23 March and the ERd week of my last one is this week.   Check out my blog if you want to hear how I managed

community.macmillan.org.uk/.../one-life-live-it

That should have said third week of my last one!

Oh wow your poor daughter, she's a brave one that's for sure, how old is your daughter? X

So your now done with chemo? Took 16 ish weeks? That seems to be the way for most people so I'm gonna use that to map my next couple of months thanks and I will read your blog, gonna climb a new mountain this evening going up the sugar loaf never been before so that's my plan today take care x

Just read your blog your going through what is in front of me, I'm 53 fit as fiddle with a huge right boob at the moment how do u know what sort of cancer you have all I have been told is it's grade 3, NST and fast growing, but how did you find out about the rest of it did the oncologist tell you this cos so far I have only seen the breast team? X