Just wondered has anyone made an appointment for the flu jab ? I have but now wondering if its ok to have one. My OH always gets it in winter and my son seems to always be off at least once a year with it .The last 3 years ive not had flu but had really bad colds that have lasted 3 to 4 weeks so thought it might be a good idea. x
Yes! I was told to get one - in fact I’m waiting to be called for one this year as I was told I ought to have one for five years. I was told to get before I started my chemo (so it was a bit of a rush) bu tit may be possible during as well, so long as it’s a relatively ‘safe’ week
Thanks for that Revcat .I will be in my 3rd week when i am booked in for it. Flu jab on the sat and chemo on the thur .Thanks x
Hi, I was advised to have a flu jab before starting chemo. I’m not sure about having it while you are having chemo, I don’t think it is a ‘live’ virus, but it is probably worth checking with the chemo department first if it is OK.
Jen
I was advised not to have a flu jab whilst on chemo, so I didn’t have a flu jab at all that year.
Advice seems to vary between oncs. Mine says yes,deffo. I was having chemo 4 yrs ago and they told me to have it just before the next dose as bloods would be rising then. Definitely not at the 10-14 day mark. I had it and was fine.
I still have one each year although I never get called from my GP surgery. Always have to play the “I have secondary breast cancer and my onc says I need a flu jab” card. Hey-ho.
I had the flu jab last year during chemo, I chose to get it at the end of the cycle so I felt stronger, but my onc said that it didn’t matter.
I had mine a week before starting chemo and was fine.
K x
I had the flu jab last year just before my third chemo session. The hospital I was treated at sent a letter to all chemo patients telling them to get it, but my oncologist was very dismissive of the idea saying my immune system wouldn’t respond to produce any anti-bodies. Very confusing! I decided, with the rest of my family, to have it and all I can say is at my kids school they had at least half the class off with flu at some point, but none of us were affected. Who knows, but in general my kids (and me) pick up everything.
Rev Cat just wanted to say you made me giggle with your typo… “bu tit”
Hey… anything to make you smile!
Alas, since chemo my typing has got really really bad… before it was just really bad… from what others say I think I’m not alone… and proof reading our own stuff is notoriously tricky.
I had mine during Chemo two years ago and also had the swine flu jab as they both separate at the time. However the recommendation was two doses of each if your on Chemo as the Chemo can affect the uptake. I think they were 3 weeks apart and i think had them just before Chemo so as not gave it my bad week.
Now it’s a combined vaccine but think you may still be recommended to have two doses. Iknow dome people have been refused the vaccine after treatment for bc but your bloods can be crap fir up to a year so would def say have it at least the following year too but think having for 5 years is good advice as you are still considered to be a cancer patient for 5 years.
Lulu x
Thanks everyone. My docs have booked me in for my good week but not said anything about two doses but ive got chemo on thur so might ask the nurses what to do as i wont see my onc now for seven weeks. Only see her on my third and last chemo x
I had flu jab on Thursday and start chemo today. Woke up on Friday and thought “now both arms feel knackered!” Anyway, fine now and feel protected - well, just a little. Still terrified as I hate feeling ill.
I was on Chemo in the Winter of 2009 (during the Swine Flu scare). I had the flu and swine flu injections during my chemo. I was told to have them 2/3 days before the chemo is due. So that my immune system is on the way up. The flu injection is not a “live” injection. It is better to have the flu injection than to have flu.
Marian