Ever received Gamma Globulin shot for Polio or RhoGAM® shot for Rh- pregnancy?

[Gina]

As many of you know, I work against the backdrop of a totally different her-2/neu cancer paradigm than most folks these days and come at the disease from a number of non-traditional angles. One of the latest and most fascinating connections with her-2 to surface was brought to my attention by a fellow her-2 survivor who was innoculated in 1955 with a Gamma Globulin injection as a preventative against polio. An unexpected connection that became very interesting in my earlier inquiry regarding the Rh negative factor and her-2 positive folks was the higher than average number of her-2 positive women who gave birth to a child of opposite Rh factor from themselves. Naturally, when the woman is Rh negative and the fetus is positive, this can be more serious and so the woman (since 1968) is usually injected with RhoGAM® (Rho(D) Immune Globulin) at some point during the pregnancy and then, usually given a second injection immediately after the birth. So, just to see if there is really any connection between her-2 and the Globulin angle, I thought it would be interesting to take a quick poll of how many of us A) are her-2 positive and have received a Gamma Globulin injection, say for polio, B) are her-2 positive and have received a RhoGAM® Rho(D) Immune Globulin injection involving a pregnancy/and or birth of a child, C) are her-2 positive and have received Both injections, or D) are Her-2 positive and have received NEITHER injection.

As usual, I will break the ice and start the poll. Hi, my name is Gina Popp and I am her-2 positive and Blood type A- and have received the RhoGAM® Rho(D) Immune Globulin injection for the pregnancy and birth of my only child, Jordan, who is A Positive.

Again, for those wall-flowers among you out there who do not want your "globulins" (gee, I should have done this poll at Halloween..smile) made public for all the world to see..smile...if you would like to respond in a less public forum, please feel free to send me a private message at this site or e-mail me at home at Gpopp@Comcast.net.

Thanks for your help!
Gina

[Michelle]

Gina,
I'am RH- and recieved the Rhogam shot for both of my pg's, and was dxed when my son was 18 months. I've never heard of this connection. Interesting that you bring it up. I should also add that I did fertility injections for my second pg. and have wondered if that contributed. Let us know what you find out.
Michelle

[jener8er]

Hi Gina. I am O+, but my last child was O-. I never received the shot. I was diagnosed strongly Her2+++ when she was 19 months old. She is my 4th child and I breastfed every one of them. I hope this helps your poll, didn't know how to answer it above!
Jen

Gina,

I received a Gamma Globulin shot because we were traveling to Italy and that is what they gave you, so you wouldn't get Hep A. I don't know if that is the same thing you are talking about.

Karen

[Barbara H.]

Hi Gina,
I already responded to the earlier poll. I am A- with two A+ children and have had Rhogam. A person in one of my classes in college had Hepatitus and it was suggested that we receive a Gamma Gobulin injection which I did.
Hope this helps,
Barbara H.

P.S. Gina, here is another interesting connection for your research. Sometime between 1974-78 there was a flu scare like the current bird flu and a flu shot was develeoped and given. I remember getting it, but I don't remember the name of the flu. From what I remember the flu never really materialized but there was concern that getting the shot could have consequences in the future. Have you ever heard about that incident. I think you may be too young to remember the scare.

[Becky]

This was the A/Hong Kong/68 flu in 1975 and then the A/Victoria in 1976. Both based on a mutated avian flu H3N2. It was not as wide spread and virulent as initially thought.

Flu shots were given and re-given, especially if you lived in the southwest or Gulf coast. Houston was especially hard hit.

I am following the new flu as it is an interest of mine.

Peace,

Becky

PS - Gina - I answered your poll as I received RhoGam for my 3 pregnancies. I'll write you soon. Love ya.

[Gina]

Michelle and Jen..thanks for continuing to humor me on the Rh- and rhogam info...I saved your data from our last go round with this but I am very appreciative that you responded to the poll as that will give us all a way to study some of these....uh...ideas of mine more empirically. Karen, you get the prize..thanks for mentioning the gamma globulin shot for overseas trips--after I put the poll up I did a bit more research and seems there are a lot of reasons that folks OUR age may have received gamma globulin injections...not sure of the connection if any, but as I mentioned...one of my good her-2 pals brought it up to me and I thought it was worth looking into as both the gamma globulin and the rhogam could alter immunity...which is something that does seem to be at the core of this problem...we need to answer the question: Why do Her-2 folks immune systems not "see" the cancer infected cells UNTIL they are tagged with the Herceptin?? Fortunately for most of us..once the Herceptin does its thing, our immune systems do seem to kick right back in and clean up that ol' tumor debris...all of us are prime examples... Plus, many of us PRIOR to on-set of her-2 neu mediated disease, all report BEING VERY HEALTHLY..and many of us right here...exceptionally so...hmmmmm.....I smell a rat...oops...pardon the chinese rat protein pun...hee hee hee.

Barbara H...good to be in touch with you again and thanks for mentioning the gamma globulin for hepatitis...I, too, had ONE classmate come down with that in 1975 or 76--but I don't remember getting any shot...only remember her being quorantined in her home for 8 weeks.... And Becky, Yes sireeee!!! Boy, did I have the HONG KONG flu..yes, I remember it ...oh, what a horrible memory...my whole family came down with it...my dad, my two baby sisters, then me and finally my mom...we all just laid around in a big heap...feeling like we were dying. I can not remember if I got any shot, but being in the rural area where I grew up...most likely, in THEM THERE HILLS...we got vaccinated the OLD FASHIONED WAY..uh, by actually catching the disease and "if you lived till morning"...smile..you were "vaccinated" hee hee hee...but yes, I did contract that horrible flu the first go round in 1968. And not to worry, Barbara, I am not so young you know...I will be 42 on February 21st...just around the corner....but so HAPPY to have made it this far!!!! This month marks my 8th year of survival since mastectomy back on Nov. 17, 1997....a day I would NOT care to re-live for any reason...please lord..don't give me this past life in a future one..smile... And ditto Becky, I have been keeping my eye on the new avian flu as well...sure hope we don't find ourselves up against a Pandemic like that Spanish flu that killed so many...I think they are now saying that too was related to an avian strain...gee, go figure..

OK, girls...we will let this poll run till the end of the year and see what we get back. If any of you think of OTHER her-2 commonalities...let's post them, poll them and throw them out. I think it is time we all put in our 2 cents worth toward getting at the core of this problem. Like my OLD basketball coach used to say...(IN A BIG MEAN VOICE, I might add>>>> smile)?>>>"Good things MAY come to those who wait, but NOT BASKETBALLS--so get out there and REBOUND!!!!!" Smile...Godspeed to us all, Gina L. Popp

[Ginagce]

Hello Gina. I voted but wanted to clarify. I did not receive the gamma shots for polio, but rather as part of a series of shots prior to traveling to Asia. In my case the gamma gobulin was meant to protect me from getting Hepatitis B and I have received it 3 times. First received in 88, then again in 93, both prior to bc dx. The last time was in 2002 prior to going to Borneo.

Interesting pole your taking, will look forward to all results.

Gina

[sherri]

Hi my dear Gina,

I think before our trip to Africa in 2003 we had the Gamma shot, that was required, I'm O+, my mother is A+ and my father was O+. One day you will discover the mistery of Her2! I told you before you must work in research for cancer.
Hug and love,

Thanks Gina for mentioning this.
Pretty sure I am A positive blood type. My mother is O pos and Dad is A pos.
Never had RhoGam.

I had the following shots:

At age 2 had Gamma Glob. against the red measels that Mom caught in the hospital when she was there to give birth to my sister.

Age 5 had Salk vaccine against polio in a sugar cube.

Age 6 had DPT shot - Diptheria, Pertussis, Typhus.

Rubella at age 17 or so.

1968 - Typhoid/paratyphoid so I could travel in Europe/ 2 part

Had 2 part anti-Hep A AFTER Breast cancer diagnosis as I was possibly exposed.

ALLERGY SHOTS:

One round weekly in summer, biweekly in winter at age 7 until 10 or so.

Beatty vaccine series in 1967 - an immune system booster recommended by my allergist.

2 round of shots in mid-to late 80's.

Seems like I got used to being poked with needles at a tender age, huh??
No wonder cancer treatment was so easy as far as the needles were concerned. If I were needlephobic, I would most like be dead by now!

Gina, do you make anything of this concoction of immunizations?

[StephN]

Hi -
I am not at my computer and forgot to log in.
The last post belongs to me.
StephN

I am Her2+ and blood type A. My mom's blood type was negative. She had breast cancer as well and survived 6 years after dx. She passed away in '74. I can't recall if she were A or B, though. My dad was O+
I do not know what she may or may not received as a result of her blood type. It was never discussed, or if it were, I don't recall.
I DID have a gamma globulin injection AFTER I was exposed to hepatitis about 26 years before my b.c. dx. I have no idea if I had had another one prior to that.

[IRENE FROM TAMPA]

I am RH - O negative with (3) children.My husband was O positive. My first born was same blood type as myself . When I became pregnant with my second daughter, I found out my blood type and that I might be a candidate for the RhoGam injection. My daughter was O positive so I did have the injection . This was in 1968 and the injection had just come out to public. I had to take it again when my third daughter was born.

I also received the polio vacine when I was about 9 years old. I do not remember the name of the vacine, just know it was the polio vacine that had just come out at that time.

Hope this info is of help.

Her-2+, blood type O+, three children, all Rh+, no GG ever. Was always very healthy, though....

[Sheila]

Her2 3+, Blood type A+...all 3 children are A+...never had either shot.