Hi
Has anyone had this vaccination, whilst on chemo?..I am diabtetic and I have primary breast cancer…halfway through chemo. If you have had the vaccination let me know…it makes me a bit nervous, espcially since the NHS has had limited trials if any in this regard?..
Hi,
I am worried about having it too although have had the normal flu vaccine. Had an appt with my oncologist yesterday just before my second FEC and she still advises to get it although in our area even the NHS staff havent had it so will be a while before its an option anyway. Maybe a little more info will come to light before we have to make the decision. At the moment its just something else to worry about!
Karen
Hi Karen
I am going to wait a while…see if anyone else responds to this post…I really don’t want to feel like a guinea pig (whats the phrase they use…well there were underlying causes…if the pawpaw hits the fan)…I think my GP is offering it…and he wants an answer from me…my ONC said must have it and there were trials last week…I work for the NHS though and lets just say…mm…it still bothers me…Lets wait a while?..
Good luck with the treatment…we have enough on our plate…I guess you are a newbie too?
Noelene
hi, just to say that it makes me nervous too. I am going to wait till chemo is over and just really avoid people that are snotty. I think i would feel nervous even without the chemo going on. Fortunately i finish on the 9th dec so not too long to wait.
My onc has not decided if we should have it. I was advised to have the seasonal flu vaccine which I have had but not the swine flu one.
I am not sure why they are saying no to it. I am having chemo tomorrow and I will ask the nurse what the reason is and get back to you all.
Hi Noelene,
Yes, another newbie! Still feeling positive and this site sure does help! how about you?
Karen
Hi Karen , Anna and Redpark
Karen - Yip the club that no-one wants to join…but I’m glad we are not alone in this (upside?)…Emotionally it was rough in the first week…this is testing…more than anything else…you are not sick with BC…just chemo side effects… then your instincts tell you…need to worry now…how long…but 5 weeks later…Im feeling much better…emotionally…There are still some things you can control even with this diagnosis…your attitude…a positive one helps…(placebo effect)…I’ve decided not to pay attention to statistics…everyone I know who has had this…has beat the stats…understanding your diagnosis…etc…I plan on being around for a very long time to irritate people…I still have some wild holidays planned…
Anna…I had the same thing in mind, no public places…9 Dec…you lucky devil!..that’s cause for celebration!
Redpark…yes please let me know
Hi, the 9th dec, isnt it just! i plan to celebrate for sure! I can really see the end of the chemo journey and it is such a good feeling, i really cant believe that i am this close to finishing it. There were so many dark times there were i thought i cant do this. I remember thinking too that maybe i could stop after 6 cycles, i have given it my best shot. But here i am, cycle 6 done, bring on the other 2, lets get them done. I have a few mms of hair too, so i am excited about how much hair i will have for christmas! I think my periods have stopped though, but hopefully with only a little way to go they will return again soon.
I was thinking too, that regards the swine flu, if lots of people are being vaccinated then hopefully that makes us less likely to come in to contact with it.
take care
anna
Hi Anna
LOL!..I have a few hairs…and I still blowdry it…to get the water off…except now it takes 1 min…not 45!..I can’t wait until mine grows back…at the moment I am very aerodynamic!..I’m sure you will have a nice head of hair by Xmas…would be a nice gift…worth more than anything I can think of at this moment…you get a part of you back!..I will go and get the normal flu vaccine now…will wait to hear what redpark says…re the piggy one…and hold 10
Cheers
Noelene
Hi Noelene
I aksed the nurse who did my chemo and they are still waiting to decide yes or no.
When i asked were why we might not be able to have it she did not know and unfortualluy the unit sister who would know was not in today.
Thanks redpark
Okay…lets wait and see…my surgery will only have it in a week in any event…and when I asked …no-one could even tell me what the side effects would be…
Thanks for the info
Noelene
I had it yesterday (although am Zoladex and Tamoxifen rather than chemotherapy). I felt quite ropey last night (tired, headachy, sore arm - a bit like a typhoid injection in the 1980s) and my arm still feels tender but am feeling better today, if that’s any help.
Hi Poddle
Thanks for the info. Glad you are feeling better…I called the swineflu helpline yesterday to speak to someone…re this…just a recording …so that did not help…I still don’t know…chatting with my GP in an hour…lets see
Noelene
Hi there
I have just called my Drs surgery to book my jab. I start chemo soon and my oncologist advised me to. My surgery don’t have supplies yet and don’t know when they are going to get them in.
XM
Hi MissM
Lets see who goes first then…My surgery have it in…but have not given it to anyone yet…my hubby and I will go…not sure about my kids…they want everyone in the home to have it…
Noelene
Am starting Fec-T next Wednesday and my BCN advised me to get the flu jabs. Seasonal one no problem the receptionist on that day was great, nip up this afternoon and we’ll fit you in.
Checked with them last week to see if had SF supplies and was told by the receptionist, no not in yet but even when it comes in you can’t have it. Why not? Your not on the list!. Isn’t one of the criteria for having it those people with lowered immunity, which is what could happen when having chemo? Yes but you didnt have that when the list was made by the health authority!. How do I get put on the list, do I need to see the GP? No, he doesnt arrange for people to be added on!! Who does then? Don’t know (with impression of don’t care) but its nothing to do with us as your not on the list.
Will check with BCN again but isnt it nice to run into these helpful people!! Just glad she wasnt around when Schindler was arranging his lists!!
Alex
Hi Alex,
I wrote a letter to my doctor reminding him that I was having chemo and could he make sure that I was on the priority list for swine flu. Dont know if that will work but at least it gets past the very unhelpful receptionists! Ours still hasnt got supplies yet so might be a while until I find out if that worked anyway!
Karen
Hi Alex
My GP put me on the elusive list and gave it to the practise nurse running the treatment room…having it next Wed…the NHS…sorry man…how irritating…Glad to see you took it with a pinch of salt…saved by your sense of humour !
I think they are trying to manage their ampules…I think I was on the list before in any event…as I have diabetes too…but surely they should have enough to go round or should have access to enough…what are they going to do…deny access to the vaccine…sods…they need to make a plan
Noelene
I phoned our surgery as both me and my son need it, hopefully will get my eldest daughter a jab too, and they said they are having drop in sessions on Tuesday and Friday afternoon at the other practice surgery and to just go down when I can during the drop in times, she said they had had 500 delivered and had about 200 left. Hoping to get mine either tomorrow or Friday. x
Hey
My onc told me that I had to have the swine flu & seasonal flu immunisations (I’m due 4th FEC tomorrow then having 4 TAX). Strange how this seems to vary from area to area!
I had both on Saturday & touch wood I’ve been neither up nor down with them. My left arm ached a little on Sunday, but nothing major…had to have the seasonal flu vaccine in my buttox tho due to having full anc clearance…but thankfully that didn’t ache too!! LOL
I was told by my GP on Saturday that I need to go back in 3 weeks to get a second Swine Flu vaccination due to my compromised immune system! Anyone else aware that this was the case? My onc kept that one quiet!!
Hx