Capecitabine

I think this is a personal decision. I was put on the shielding list when I started chemo so didn't see anyone during it at all. Now covid cases are on the rise, I am still being extremely cautious as chemo really hits your immune system. I am still on the 'extremely vulnerable' shielding list and I finished chemo in January. I have had 2 vaccinations but as they don't know how your immune system responds when you are immunosuppressed then the government advice is to act like you have had none.

For me, it is just too risky to see many people especially with new variants being so much easier to transmit. I am not surviving cancer only to get covid.

My understanding is that you are extremely vulnerable throughout chemo and for many many months afterwards. I read a paper that tested chemo patients 9 months on and their immune systems still weren't back to normal.

In terms of your cycle, your worst days are days 7 to 14 in terms of your blood counts and then they start to improve after that, so by week 3, although you feel better in yourself, your blood counts are only just recovering.

Having said all this, it is obviously a personal choice. Could you ask people to do lateral flow tests before seeing you and to try and isolate themselves as far as possible for a week or so before staying? If you act more like a bubble then the risks should be greatly reduced.