Gigs and chemo ? Advice please

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Hi ,

taking a bit of a straw poll here , I am on FEC-T chemo had my first dose 11 days ago

I am a bit of a rock chick love going to live concerts and there are a few coming up in the next few months I don’t want to miss …

I know we chemo folks need to be extra careful in crowded places  but I wanted to know if anyone went to anything like a rock concert  or is it too risky ??? Guess it depends where in the cycle I am in terms of immunity

I need to do things that make me happy and this is the main thing I do

thinking of small venues or seated only concerts

would appreciate any advice those who have been through this thanks

Rowan44

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I guess it all depends on your attitude to risk and I agree it’s important to carry on doing stuff you enjoy.

 

Personally I had FEC-T during the winter when seasonal flu/swine flu and colds were at their height (a few years ago).  I went out during my third week after each chemo session as I was advised that’s when my immunity should be strongest.  However I always armed myself with a bottle of hand sanitiser.  I didn’t go anywhere particularly crowded, rather I did things like lunching with friends where I knew that if anyone had a cold they had the good grace to stay away.  Apart from that, I largely stayed indoors at home.  It all felt a bit ‘paranoid’ (and boring) at the time but it paid off as I’m pleased to say I got through chemo without contracting any bugs so each session went ahead as planned with no delays which was good - and I’m still hear, several years later. 

 

Interestingly my BCN did warn against ‘seated only’ events such as seated concerts, cinema, theatre, as you have no control over who may be sitting around you, how much of streaming cold they have at the time and how many germs they breathe/sneeze over you in the course of a 2-hour film for example.  If you went to an event where you can move around that might actually be preferable.  Just a thought.

 

By the way I presume you’ve had at least one flu jab (I had two, which was the protocol for chemo patients during that season). 

 

All the best, try to enjoy yourself whatever you decide.

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Thanks yes I have a flu jab every year and have had the pneumonia one too . I do feel a bit housebound and paranoid at present not sure what I can and can’t do but can’t imagine 6 months of no gigs at all . Like you say tho it don’t want to have an infection or delay treatment

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Yes it is i hope i can get the balance right lol , I was interested to hear the BCN said avoid seated gigs and cinema … Mine hadn’t really offered up an opinion apart from general stay away from crowded places advice

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Hi Rowan, I too am a massive gig goer. I did go to a few gigs but made sure it was in the 3rd week when my blood count was at its best. I did miss out on a few gigs in my bad week’s but didn’t want to chance it. I just stayed out of the pit and at my last gig the lovely venue staff let me sit in the VIP section as I was a bit weak and they had ran out of seats :smiley: depending on venue may be worth calling them and seeing if you can go in the disabled area as these tend to be less crowded and have available seating if like me you struggle to stand for long periods :smiley:

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Yay :slight_smile: thanks I was hoping to get a response from someone that had done it ! Good to hear.What chemo regime were you on ? I on FEC -T I am day 13 after my first course and apart from feeling tired haven’t had much side effects so obviously thinking that a gig is doe able shame I can’t find one next week they all seem to be March and April at present . Good point about being able to sit if you need to x

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Hi Rowan, I’m the same as piggsy and finished 6 fec-T November 12th and finished 15 rads January 4th. Haven’t posted for a while but always pop by to see how everyones doing :slight_smile: I’m an events manager and promoter by profession so the need to attend gigs was a must for me also. I even managed to put on a local outdoor Rock festival halfway through my chemo. I found it important to continue with my life and who I am as much as possible. I think ultimately it kept me sane :smiley: I think as long as your sensible then hell to it, we need our treats and having something to look forward to gives you a boost :slight_smile:

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Thank you Southpool yes on my third week after my first course I felt back to normal and so now we are looking at various options to see some bands that fit in with a week three slot ! Thanks for your comments life does go on and I need to be as normal as possible through treatment and beyond :slight_smile: whatever that is xx

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Great to read this thread, thanks all. Am booked to go to Download festival for the day and also gig in Milton Keynes Bowl in July, crossing everything I’ll feel well enough to go as just had my chemo extended from 6 rounds to 8. Agree entirely that you still have to try and live as normal a life as you can, whilst balancing not putting yourself at too much infection risk.

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hi fellow gig goers. I thought I would post & let you know there is light at the end of the tunnel! Last year I went to the 3 day Sound City Festival in Liverpool 6 months after finishing chemo & lasted to 11pm each night. This year 12 months on I have managed to stay out until 2am each day & seen over 21 bands!!

 

Hang on in there girls it gets better!

 

S x

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Hi Rowan, so glad to hear you’ve come out the other end of your treatment and managed to keep a small bit of normality :smiley: I’m finished now also (appart from recon) and am certainly making up for lost time and opened my own nightclub/live music venue this year. Very hard work but this is my life and I’m taking it back :smiley: Oohh @sisterphonetica I would of loved to have seen Kate Bush but didn’t get the time :frowning: hope you have an amazing time :smiley: