Hi,
My brother in law thinks he may have shingles and I have not seen him for a week. I am not sure, can anyone tell me if this is a problem while I am on chemotherapy, my medical book does not say I can catch it. As I understand someone with shingles can give someone chicken pox. I am right in the middle of the double doses of CMF so have another in 2 days.
Any advice if only to stop me wondering would be very welcome
Thanks
Lily x
Hi
Any infection should be avoided at all cost your immune system has gone to pieces and you cant fight infection which can be serious please avoid it like the plauge
If you aren’t immune to chickenpox, you can catch it from someone with shingles as it is the same Herpes Zoster virus that causes both diseases. You mustn’t take the risk so stay away!
Hi Lily
As both Joanne42 and Cathy59 say, it’s always advisable to stay away from any form of infection when undergoing treatment and, if in doubt, it’s best co contact your medical team for advice if at all unsure.
Kind regards.
Louise
Facilitator
When I was nearly 9 months pregnant my family were due to visit and my two nephews had chickenpox; even though I had definitely had chickenpox as a child I was told to avoid contact with my nephews. So we didn’t have Christmas together that year …
Also my Mum had chickenpox as a child and later (in her 30s) had shingles - so even if you think you have immunity, I wouldn’t take the risk.
Irina xx
Hi Lilly,
It may be worth while speaking to your onc or someone on the oncology ward - they may consider giving you a course of Aciclovir as a precaution. Take care. Love xxx
Hi again Lilly,
Just been looking on internet for you - found this on the Cancerbackup site - hope the moderator will allow the link - hope it helps.
cancerbackup.org.uk/QAs/LivingwithcancerQAs/ControllingsymptomsQAs/Other/related_faqs/QAs/58790083
Love xxxx
Hi,
thank you so much for your responses. Got rather scared by the article above (but thanks as needed to know) and decided to call my research nurse as has a 24 hour pager. Also my BIL dropped into the phone conversation that he had actually first spotted them on the Tuesday morning, as he had spent the day with us on the saturday before. Anyway I have to just sit it out and see if he has definitely got them and if so whether I do too. They will just react when and if I get something so bloods tomorrow and more chemo on Tuesday as planned. I did wonder whether my blood counts will show a blip if I am getting it, not sure how long it would take to show up. On the bright side I had a big dose of chicken pox when young and also nursed my 4 kids through it so have had a lot of exposure being a teacher too.
Thanks and will let you know how it goes. Hopefully a false alarm!
Lily x
Lily sorry to hear this, hope you get sorted and dont catch anything
xxx
I had this situation at the beginning of my chemo - I have had chicken pox and so was told not to worry.
jsut watch your temperature as normal.
good luck
Hi,
well it is not really resolved as the GP doesn’t know if it is shingles or not, but think it looks like it, as it is following the narrow path of a nerve. We have been told to avoid more contact and just have to wait and see if I get any reaction. The GP doesn’t seem to be very on the ball, likewise mine has to get his book out for the mildest prescription. Better safe than sorry I guess. Will ask the oncology unit Doc as he is likely to have more specialised knowledge.
thanks and keep away from bugs!
Lily x