coronavirus - The high risk list?

Hi what I’ve been told is only high risk is if yiu are within 3 months of having chemo and the specific cancers in list .I am 20 month post radiotherapy and won’t be having my 3 month check as priorities rightly so being given to new cancer patients and people in the 0-12 month period ,with poss telephone calls in the 12-18 month this might onky be in my area best try and check locally. Apparantly the camera uo nose is not going to be as routine due to possible infections from patients who aren’t showing symptoms of COVID -19 but not enough PPE. ff3 masks for ent consultant s to wear. I found this on the British oncologist site  www.bahno.org.uk under news about the appointments being stretched

check with your lymphodema nurse if yiu can.

Hazel x  

Hi Penrod, There is confusing information about high risk groups especially for cancer patients. I also think it depends your white blood cell count.

Following treatment it may take some time to build up a good white blood cell count again which leaves some people more vulnerable to viruses than others. 

I still get regular blood tests as mine is low but improving slowly. To be safe I’m assuming I’m in the High risk group and taking all precautions to stay well 

I haven’t read much on here lately so apologies if this has already been mentioned 

best wishes 

Carrie 

Hi Penrod , i think if you are in any doubt then please self isolate as I'm sure having lymphedema is still classed as having treatment, I'm not even sure if I'm on the list but as I breathe through a hole in my neck rather than nose and mouth I'm very prone to chest infections so no questions asked I'm self-isolating as a precaution and being sensible. So I think the choice is yours to some extent. All the best .

                                                                                         Chris 

Hi Hazel RadioactiveRaz

Interesting about the scope up the nose. Makes sense. I have a MaxFac check up due April which is usually a chat and a poke around and an onc check in July which is a scope. I’m ok with having those put off as I know how to check myself but I hope us lot under the two years do get looked at at some stage. 
Penrod Lymphadema is just a symptom of bad drainage so you should be ok but as Chris says, if in doubt isolate. 

Hi Dani

am sure we will when it’s all over , but I like you will keep checking and will keep in touch via n h s appointments don’t want to drop off the system. 

Although luckily like you have a great rapport with oncologist I emailed Dr Sen yesterday as he likes to know every 3 months the scope of blog as his special interest where he is international director for BAHNO is Africa  and last month I had a spike 17 Nigeria 6 South Africa .didnt expect a reply especially on a Sunday but bless him he did. I off course said hope he was ok and all the staff in these extenuating circumstances.

Take care hope the U.K. settles down in meanwhile we are safe over here .couldnt  believe the queues parked up on Pen y Pass on Saturday crazy .At least here lockdown means lockdown.

Hazel x 

I think the scoping is probably a bit of "false news".  They don't use the same scope twice on different patients without a full sterilisation in between.  There should be no risk of cross transmission.  I for one would like to escape the scope as I hate it.  Maybe they will bring forward some work about those patients they can trust being left alone to manage their care knowing they will be straight on the phone if things change.

I was warned that my 3 month follow up may stretch to 4 months and if I hear nothing I'll get on the phone.  It is vital that you don't let the Covid-19 issues unnecessarily impact on your own care otherwise there is an even greater impact on the NHS down the line.

HI

The info came directly from my oncologist it is also the www.BAHNO.org.uk web site under news. It’s nit the scope that’s the problem yes we know you get a sterilised one every time it’s to protect  the e n t  consultant s from any patients who have the virus but nit showing symptoms as it’s an airborne contagious virus and at the moment there aren’t enough FF3 masks available it’s people who are post 18 months treatment not people who are in the period end of treatment to 18 month. I have been advised that as I am now 20 month post radiotherapy I will be seen at longer intervals  to enable  new patients and the ones leading up to 18 month to be seen . 

I totally agree it’s vital we are all seen up to the 5 year period 

Hazel x

PFJTHS

The scoping is an issue for the clinician doing it. That’s what the guidelines are telling them. You can’t know if somebody is infected before they become symptomatic. It’s not about lateral transmission because, as you say, they are sterilised between patients. 

Thanks all,

I'm already isolating, I'm asking really as I wan't to know if it allows us to register as vulnerable at Sainsbury's

Quick follow up to this.

I emailed the Lymphoedema Support Network -  lsn.org.uk   and they've just replied

"In and of itself the lymphoedema will not make you more susceptible to the virus which is good news, however you may be more susceptible due to your cancer treatment and if you still have compromised swallowing."

That's a bit of good news.