How has the Pandemic affected you as a cancer patient/survivor

Chowdog

Preliminary lab data regarding Pfizer vaccine against omicron

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-07...

"In the first reported experiments gauging the effectiveness of Pfizer and BioNTech SE's vaccine, researchers at the African Health Research Institute found omicron infection results in about a 40-fold reduction in virus-blocking antibodies compared with the strain detected in China almost two years ago. The loss of immune protection is "robust, but not complete," said Alex Sigal, head of research at the Durban-based laboratory, in an online presentation late Tuesday."

Edit to add this is a small study of 12 people, half of which had prior covid + vaccine, and those people fared better than vaccine only.

Pfizer also said they will have their own lab results coming out later this week.

Beesie

The face of the Covid medical response in Toronto has "pre-cancerous cells". DCIS, I would guess.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-medical-officer-of-health-surgery-tomorrow-1.6277148

sbelizabeth

A friend's unvaccinated dad died of Covid last week. He and his wife built a beautiful, spacious home in the mountains a couple of years ago. If they were in a difficult financial situation there was no sign of it. Now there's a GoFundMe page, asking for $20k in donations for his funeral. I'm pretty sure I'm a miserable human being, totally lacking in compassion for even having these thoughts, but what the heck?

Anonymous

SBE - I don’t get it either.

nopink2019

My sister has a similar type friend. Kitchen caught fire so they "finagled" to get ins to replace all living spaces and a go fund me page so they could have total upgrades and rearrange walls. Nicest house on the block. They don't believe in car ins so when their car got totalled, they set up a go fund me for new $60K car, old one was too small now that they are old and empty nesters? Their logic, "God will provide." Guess as long as there are suckers and they can lie to ins company, that is true.

illimae

ugh, go fund me’s. I understand it in situations of unforeseen and tragic circumstances but most seem to be a result of poor planning and greed.

I see some states having big covid troubles again, which is disappointing. Sure vaccines help but I just don’t get not wearing masks around others in most places. It’s been nearly 2 years now, people should be used to it. The initial adjustment was tough for some, but still? It’s annoying.

Anonymous

I went to the mall today for the first time since the pandemic started. I needed a replacement battery for a phone. Most everyone had a mask on properly, but all surgical mask. There was one guy chin-masking as he walked with a drink. 😒

We are experiencing a surge in cases, but QC public health is comfortable with more than double the cases because hospitalizations are not rising much. Lagging! 🤬

SF-Cakes

My department is having a nice holiday luncheon/staff appreciation kind of thing, and it was originally scheduled to be outdoors. But some staff complained that it was occurring on their day off, so the date was changed to next week, right when a big storm is scheduled to hit! They've now changed it to indoors at a small restaurant and now I am not going, since I'm stage 4 and am not going to sit with 40 other people indoors eating and talking for several hours. Argh. Very sad and frustrated.

wrenn

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharma...

For people who think the vaccine is dangerous.

Anonymous

My daughter’s pregnant friend is waiting for her test results after her partner and his father tested COVID+. Caught from an office holiday party. Everyone has had 2 vaccine doses.

Sorella

xbrnxgrl,

Sorry I didn't answer until now. Funny, my husband is Italian and we speak some at home and in Italian sorella does mean sister but pronounced differently than my Hebrew name Sorella. Thanks for your kind words and good luck to you.

exbrnxgrl

sorella,

I am a bit obsessed with the Romance languages so I was struck by your name. How would you pronounce it in Hebrew? I am not a Hebrew speaker (I dropped out of Hebrew school after a year) but grew up in a Yiddish speaking household My Hebrew name is Liebe Shana.

Sorella

My father's first language was Yiddish but my mom's English although she understood Yiddish from her grandfather. It was my parents language when they said private things. My sister and I tried to teach ourselves with a book called the Young Yiddish Teacher to no avail. I am also quite interested in the romance languages. My mother pronounced my "Jewish name" as she called it, sir a la with the accent on sir. Yours is pretty. My daughter's Hebrew name is Shana

Chowdog

It looks like UK might be heading to another lockdown.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/boris-johnso...

but, not in the U.S.. bay area restaurants are fully booked both indoor & outdoor with private parties, new years eve parties,...

I am just wondering have most of people just moved on already?

Kikomoon

Chowdog, I think they have moved on. We only eat outside at restaurants but I’m always surprised how many people are dining indoors. I keep hearing about holiday parties. My in-laws are coming here for Christmas and just posted on Facebook photos of them at their church choir concert . We just spoke to them on the phone and told them we will probably ask them to get tested before they visit.

Chowdog

Kikomoon,

same here. I have only done takeout and outdoor dining since March 2020. Tomorrow will be my 5th outdoor dining since Mar 2020 and will be the last one for awhile until Omicron is somewhat under control.

I am glad my company stuck with virtual holiday party again this year. These parties are super spreader events.

It just saddens me that narratives, such as "once you are vaccinated, you will be fine"; "breakthrough infections are not a big deal", "there are always going to be variants", Omicron is "mild", and "it is endemic" have become thoughts of mainstream.

I am just tired of excuses and gaslight from the politicians, WH covid response team and blue check twitter influencer MDs/MPHs.

Anonymous

We're experiencing outbreaks everywhere here in Quebec. Our public health minister said last Thursday that no one could have predicted the sudden surge of cases (well, except for those who were paying attention to the omicron news!).

When I was at the mall last week, I noticed a few babies. Even without the pandemic, I wouldn't bring a baby to the mall. Today it was in the news that an otherwise healthy baby (2 months old) died of COVID. Heartbreaking loss.

I changed my third dose appointment to Monday. It was going to be 6 months from dose 2, but with the omicron surge I thought I should get it sooner (almost 5 months after). At least the province had made it simple to change my appointment in its portal.

Chowdog

Serenity,

I am glad it was easy to move up your booster appointment. Here some seniors are being turned away when they don't have appointments. What are the chances these people will come back for their boosters?

our VP was quoted today saying how the administration didn't expect new variants. It's like wtf. Enough with the excuses and gaslighting. The administration has access to cdc, nih, fda, and an army of blue check influencer mds, except they are just as out of touch as the politicians.

kathindc

I would be shocked if the coronavirus suddenly stopped mutating. Have we not learned that every time mask mandates and attendance control have been lifted, we see a surge/new variant? Let's learn from our mistakes. Limit attendance both indoors and outdoors and keep mask mandates for at least six months, I would prefer longer, and let this virus run its course. And keep pushing for people to get vaccinated. Talk about history repeating itself. It's beating us over our heads to wake up!

Chowdog

https://twitter.com/jonlemire/status/1472009383886393348?s=21

Here is the quote from vp.

Anonymous

Chowdog - At least she’s for masks. Here’s the airline CEO speaking for hours in a closed room against masks while coughing into his hand days before testing COVID+.

https://twitter.com/ronfilipkowski/status/1472016822639677450?s=21

Anonymous

I hope they upgraded their ventilation system!

My current air filters are MERV-11, and MERV-13 is required to filter out virus particles. I found MERV-13 filters that are just a little smaller than what I have. I need to measure the opening to see if they'll work. This only works to prevent transmission in my own home though.

We need clean air measures like we have for clean water.

Anonymous

Looking at this anecdote as showing that 3 mRNA shots + prior infection is not bulletproof against omicron when challenged enough. Be safe out there.

Dancemom

I need to vent again. I am going to explode with anger soon.

nyc is feeling like early March 2020 right now. I was missing kids from every single one of my Classes last and this week. One class had 6/8 missing. One school I go to has 4 classrooms closed.

Our restaurant had ALL today's reservations cancelled.

My daughter at college who is supposed to come home to help me with her little brother and my upcoming surgery was exposed by a thoughtless friend of housemate.

After school conversation with my 11 yesterday: "Hi how was school?" "They gave us kits to take home in case we go virtual cuz there are a lot of cases."

Oldest fully vaxxed, mask diva, got breakthrough- most likely from a small gathering (5 including 3 who are roomates) where all are fully vaxxed and work from home except the one who works in a law firm with a vax mandate, but no masks. Guess who was sick first.

We lost most of 2020, all of 2021- everytime i felt it was just about safe to travel, a new surge came along , and now I'm spending 2022 doing surgery, rads, oral treatment, more surgery...still can't travel.

Haven't been to see family or in laws in almost 3 years.

I really vehemently and violently HATE anyone who thinks masks are useless, that vaccines are a choice, and anyone who may prevent me from getting this stupid book removal. Fuck them all.

wrenn

My daughter had a baby last night. Who knows when I will get to see him.

Dancemom

Wrens, congratulations!!! I hope soon.

Dancemom

also, it's funny that my phone keeps auto correcting boob to book! Yes phone, its a "boob" removal

Anonymous

Dancemom - Hope your kids are ok and that your treatments don't get delayed.

wrenn - I'm sorry you're missing out on being there to meet your grandson.

Too many people are ignoring Canada's request to avoid non-essential travel. Hopefully they have contingency plans in case they can't fly back when planned.

wrenn

This pandemic showed us just how many selfish people there are in the world. I had no idea numbers were so high.

Many can be forgiven for just being really fucking stupid but most are selfish

Chowdog

Wrenn, congrats!

This popped up late night on my tweeter feed. Scott is some vp at Gilead, and Monica is one says cases don’t matter and hospitalization matters. She just published a big oped on nyt last week about this.