FLU SHOT - pros or cons, anyone?

StephN · 11-28-2007, 05:50 AM

Good morning -
I have been getting a flu shot as a matter of course the last few years since being diagnosed with breast cancer. Got the script from my onc to get the shot at the cancer center.

When I was in for my usual Herceptin last week the lab was WAY backed up due to being 2 people short, so did not wait for my shot that day. Now I am reconsidering whether to get it at all. They don't predict a hard year for flu.

What are you all doing? If I was in active chemo treatment I would not hesitate. Since I am NED, I am wondering ...

P.S. I DID get a pneumonia vaccine a few years back. I think we ALL need that one.

Believe51 · 11-28-2007, 06:25 AM

This maybe such a foolish question and some may wonder why I even ask but....SHOULD ED BE GETTING A FLU SHOT WHILE HE 'IS' IN TREATMENT???? He has never been sick, very healthy man before the cancer and yes, I do know his system is not the same but I do not want to aggrevate things for him. This year I did plan to investigate the flu shot and I am so thankful that you brought the subject up, thank you. As always you are in my thoughts Steph>>Believe51

sarah · 11-28-2007, 06:49 AM

Everyone's different of course but when I was in chemo - taxol and Herceptin once a week for 6 months, I asked the chemo doctor if I should get one, her answer was definitely since your immune system is down. but of course this is France and year by year ideas change so not sure what to suggest. I'm still on Herceptin and I'm going to get one. although last year if I'm correct we all wre immunized for the wrong flu - they guessed wrong.
check with your chemo people. I'm going to ask them about gettin a zoster vaccine since I had chicken pox as a kid and I've heard cancer patients (old ones like me!) can get shingles and this would prevent it. I'll let you know the answer unless someone else on the site has it already.
sarah

Sheila · 11-28-2007, 07:10 AM

In my opinion....with the flu in the midwest already this season, I would advise getting it...and there has been alot in the news about a much deadlier flu this year....I get one every year, and make sure my husband does too, as he works in an industry where people from all over are combined to work in sometimes extremely tight places...germ city!!!!or better known as a nuclear plant! As far as the pneumonia shots, they are only good for 5-7 years, so if its been awhile, get another. Marie, I would say anyone going through chemo should definately get one...aka ED....unless they are allergic...look what happened to our dear Kate.....respiratory illness can be is deadly in young, elderly or ill people!

madubois63 · 11-28-2007, 07:31 AM

The flu shot is not a live vaccine and anyone with a compromised immune system should get one - no matter what type of flu season they are predicting. We are more prone to catching something than the people that don't live in cancerland. I had the bone marrow transplant a year ago and was told it was extremely important that I have the vaccine this year. Catching the flu could kill me. I had the shot already and will be getting the pneumonia shot shortly. I also need to get all my baby shots as if I am a new born (funny huh?), but have to wait because those shots are live vaccines; and I am not able to handle them yet. Talk to your onc, but I am pretty sure he/she will say yes to the shot.

11-28-2007, 09:18 AM

Stephanie,

My recommendation is get it. My mother got one every year and never had a problem--died at 88. I never had one until yesterday (thinking, I suppose, that it would be an announcement of old age). Last year the oncology nurse wanted to give me one and I refused, and then suffered all winter with bouts of cold and flu.

I couldn't get an early appointment with my Primary Care doctor, so went down to Walgreen's yesterday and got both the flu shot and pneumonia vaccine, both in same arm, and feel great today. No reaction at all. And because I arrived just as they were finishing, no wait either.

I'm thinking that since you've had the shots before, you are not sensitive to eggs, etc., so that should give you greater incentive to get the shot.

RhondaH · 11-28-2007, 09:31 AM

I have NEVER had a flu shot (I'm not able to due to they are made in a chicken egg culture and I am allergic to fowl and my doc says the reaction I could have is FAR worse than not having it...)I've never had a problem...have a head cold right now, but that is all.

Rhonda

Lani · 11-28-2007, 09:40 AM

http://her2support.org/vbulletin/sea...earchid=179923

madubois63 · 11-28-2007, 11:39 AM

Lani - the link didn't work. Thanks though. Maybe you can try again??

Mary Jo · 11-28-2007, 02:27 PM

I've never had a flu shot in my life. They say, after chemo, we have a compromised immune system. I have had no illnesses since chemo and don't think my immune system is compromised 2+ years out.

My philosphy for me - "if it ain't broke don't fix it!" So, I don't.

Mary Jo

Chelee · 11-28-2007, 02:38 PM

Steph, I've always been against flu shots. Never had one in my life *until* finishing chemo. I see a pulmonary doc and he gets so serious if I tell him I don't want a flu shot. I tried that last year with him and he was NICE enough to explain to me WHY I needed one. lol I told him I didn't want to get sick from it....he said I can't because its not a live vaccine. Once he told me that I was fine with it.

I will also be getting my pnemonia shot soon. Neither shot caused me any problems afterwards. I got my flu shot in EARLY Oct. and haven't had so much as the sniffles. (Knock on wood.)

Chelee

Lani · 11-28-2007, 03:26 PM

here is another try--but just page 1 of 2

Best to go to search function on yellow line above and put in "influenza vaccination".

Hope this works

flu vaccination in breast cancer patients ( 1 2)
Lani

(it didn't)

StephN · 11-28-2007, 03:26 PM

http://her2support.org/vbulletin/sho...flu+shots+lani

It did get off topic and on to treatment of triple negatives, but there is some info on the flu shot there.

Guess I will brave the rain and go downtown and get one. The lab is much less busy in afternoons. We do deal with the public in our wine store and they come in during the holidays sick or not. And sometimes it is hard to rush someone who wants to spend a few hundred on wine gifts or dinners!

SoCalGal · 11-28-2007, 04:41 PM

I decided to get a flu shot, for 2 reasons.
1. I am constantly at doctor's offices and that's where the germy people are
2. My bf (oh gawd) has young kids - they also tend to be germy

Coin toss to decide?

--FLori

DonnaD · 11-28-2007, 04:54 PM

StephN,
Just got my flu shot today. During chemo last year my onc recommended it. I have gotten them for years. I am getting a physical Friday and will ask about the pneumonia vaccine. A friend just spent 6 days in the hospital with pneumonia, like our dear Kate. Don't want to go there.

I also agree with Flori's reason's for getting the shot.

Donna

Lolly · 11-28-2007, 05:59 PM

Well, I've been getting a flu shot annually for the last 15 years, and also got a pneumonia shot a few years ago(my understanding is I don't need it again until 65?).
Anyway, my onc surprised me this year when I asked about the flu shot, he said since I'm on chemo(taxotere and xeloda weekly) and my immune system is not very robust, it really wouldn't do me any good to get a flu shot as my system won't be able to make enough antibodies to make much of a difference! I was surprised, and he said if it made me feel better I could go ahead and get it, but my best defense is to stay away from sick people and have every one else in my family get their flu shot, which they've done.

This is news to me, but I trust his judgement and am going to just be extra cautious this winter.

CLTann · 11-28-2007, 06:56 PM

My experience is that Do Not take flu shots. There are hundreds varieties of flu and the flu shot can only protect you two or three types of flu. So what is the purpose of taking flu shots? Many of my healthy friends got flu immediately after the shots. The so called protection is actually not worth the gamble. By all means, DO NOT take flu shots.

The medical doctors, most of them, are robots. They listen and follow the orders from above. Many years ago, all doctors recommended hormone treatment for "protecting" the osteoporosis from hurting older women. Many of us here are victims of their recommendations.

dhealey · 11-28-2007, 07:04 PM

I am a nurse in a family practice office and last year I got my first flu and pneumonia shot. I work during my A/C treatments and Taxol treatments, started in Novemeber and finished end of Feb. I work when my white count was as low as .6 and never got sick. I attribute this to the vaccine, wearing a mask and lots of hand washing. I strongly urge you all to get your flu vaccines as our immune systems are compromised even if you have finished treatment. My white count never gets above 3.9 now even though I am done with treatment. They really do protect you.

AlaskaAngel · 11-28-2007, 07:26 PM

Hi StephN,

By now you might already have had your flu shot -- but I thought just in case I'd post the link to the discussion held recently here about the immune response. I too was wondering whether to get the flu shot. I posted in 3 places in the thread at least and maybe if you read those you will get the gist of the concerns I had about it and why. There were a number of good posts in that thread.

http://her2support.org/vbulletin/sho...&highlight=flu

AlaskaAngel

suzan w · 11-28-2007, 08:49 PM

I just had my flu shot today (before I read your post!). When I was getting Herceptin (at Swedish in Seattle) they came into the infusion center and gave flu shots there! My doctor (gp)has always recommended it, and today she said "Get one!", so I did! I did also ask about the vaccine for shingles...and she said to check with oncologist on that (I have appointment next week). Now I will also inquire about the pneumonia vaccine!