Did you receive the Covid Vaccine?

I have stage V MBC. Diagnosed in 3/2018. Was able to achieve and maintain NED status in my body since then. Taking tukeysa and Anastrozole daily. I had 4 brain lesions in September successfully eliminated by radiation. I take Hylecta (Herceptin) injections every 3 weeks and denosumab every 6 weeks. My health and status are maintaining. However, I am extremely afraid to take the covid vaccine.I am scared it could interfere with my infusions or my hylecta infusions could interfere with the vaccine. Does anyone else feel this way?

yes it is more about the way I feel I am scared I will get sick and die from the side effects of the accination. My oncologist (what does MO mean) said for me to get it. I already missed one chance at the hospital when it was offered to me. I never leave my home except for medical reasons and never without a mask. MY husband and son feel the same. We never go out except for a few groceries, I now get all the groceries I can left on my porch with walmart delivery. My son goes to the store to get what they can't deliver. I have a terrible time every day all day existing with my disease.I wake up in disbelief that I woke up. I don't have any kind of mental support or meds to keep me at least-calm-they are somehow very against those meds and you just can't get a script so I just live in total anxiety all the time.Maybe if I was calmer I could think a little more straight about this vaccine.Right now I still think it got rushed to market, finally drug companies MAKIng MONEy on vaccines, and there is no long term testing.Sorry I bled all over you.I feel hopelessly trapped in this world but I have NO desire to leave it. God bless all you fellow post-ers. Kathy

MO - medical oncologist

Thank you! I have a hemotologist/oncologist

KitKat,

It sounds as if you have a lot of health anxiety. Between cancer and Covid19, that is understandable but, that is no way to live in the long run.

The vaccine did come to market far more quickly than usual but remember that scientists have been working with other a Corona viruses for many years. They did not start from scratch on this one . Most importantly please remember that there have been no documented cases of anyone dying from the vaccine, sadly the same cannot be said for far too many who contracted Covid19.

Please do whatever you need to do to find less fear and more joy. The pandemic will end eventually and you will deal with your bc. I am almost 10 years into my stage IV dx. It’s not always easy but I’m still here! Take care

KitKat, I have many of the same fears you have. I am on iv chemo, and many daily medications besides. In the last couple months have been hospitalized three times for an infection and then for blood clots. :-( Getting a Covid vaccine on top of everything else seems... difficult. That being said, actually getting Covid would probably be even more difficult.

It's hard enough to coordinate the vaccine with my chemo and blood counts as it is, and doubly hard for the two-step shots. Besides, how do I know I won't have a massive infection or some other problem when I am due for my second shot? Also, some healthy people I know have seemed to have a harder time with their second Pfizer or Moderna shot, and I already feel like things are hard enough for me. For those reasons (among others) I would prefer the J&J shot, because then whatever happens, I only have to get it once.

Sadly, I cannot even get an appointment for a shot where I live, so it's a moot point right now. Despite my stage IV breast cancer the shot was only available to me since March 15th, when it became available to many other people, and the competition is fierce. Anyway. Best of luck to you, and let us know how it goes if you go through with it.

LIz: I am so sorry about your liver. I am also sorry about getting covid after the two shots. They say getting it after the shot you'll have less symptoms and keep you out of hospital but you sound pretty sick. Take care.

To the rest: My MO said that getting the shot on the same day as my infusion is not an issue. They only recommend waiting a space of time for people on active chemotherapy or just starting a form of other infusions. That way they can tell if negative side effects are from the vaccine or the infusion. I have been getting infusions for two years now so I am good to go.

kitkat: how are you doing? I used to take my anti-anxiety meds in the morning and in the evening. It helped me through the really rough patches in the early days. Now I have periodic bouts and only take them at that time. There is no shame in taking meds to help you. Anxiety is torture. It torments your brain and that affects your body, your life, your relationships. Don't ask for them - demand them!! Whose life is it, anyway?

One comment about anti-anxiety meds. Since some people abuse or misuse these drugs*, docs can be a bit suspicious if a patient they do not know well requests them. I think telling the doc exactly how you feel and especially how it is impacting our daily life is a good way to approach it. Then let them offer the meds, instead of you outright asking for them. "I feel so anxious" is vague to a doctor, but "I am sleeping only five hours per night, I am having a lot of trouble doing my job so my income is reduced, I know I should get my covid vaccine but I am too anxious to do it" etc. are more concrete statements that give the doc a clearer picture of your need.

Edited to add, I was thinking of schedule IV drugs such as Xanax. But there are other kinds of anti-anxiety meds. See Divine's post below and my reply to it.

Just thought I'd chime in. I saw my pcp last week and she said no to the vaccine for me. I am 79 and have been on herceptin for over 12 years with stage 4. My onc also believes I'm high risk. I've had several side effect issues in the past (and now), so I didn't think I would be allowed anyway. I've also stayed away from flu shots.

For the last year, I've mostly quarantined myself, except for various doctor appointments one to three times a week. I see my doctors while wearing my mask. I even have my scrips delivered when I can. Except for fresh produce and dairy, I seldom go shopping, and Amazon is my friend. I buy books and dry groceries from them.

I visit my family at my daughter's home nearby, where we are seated far apart from each other when I'm there. No hugs or kisses to anyone.

Pretty soon, it will be beach time with no mask; just me, a book, and the ocean!

Australia has now had its first case of serious blood clots after a 44 year old man received the Astra Zeneca vaccine. These have been reported in the UK and Europe with some deaths, leading to some jurisdictions banning AZ for particular age groups.

I'm now nervous about having had the first jab and don't know if I will have the booster 12 weeks later. I'm particularly nervous because cancer patients have a higher risk of blood clots already. I'm flying to Hobart on Tuesday, 8 days after the jab and even though the flight is less than 2 hours, I am worried about all these things adding up to cause blood clots. I have decided to wear support socks and I know I should drink a lot of water, but have so far resisted removing my mask to eat or drink anything in the confines of the plane in my two recent return trips. This disease and its vaccines are very worrisome!

I got my second Moderna shot last week. Symptoms were mild like the first shot: sore arm and a little more fatigue than normal for me. I’m on Herceptin every 3 weeks. My MO didn’t suggest any specific scheduling but I had both shots in a week without the infusion.

I had CBC and Comp Metabolic tests a few days after the shot. The report noted hemolysis and suggested retesting. I’m not sure that is related to the vaccine though since I had taken acetaminophen in the morning for pain

To All: Yesterday, I had my H&P infusion in the morning . At 3:45 p,m, I had my first Pfizer jab. My MO had zero concerns about me doing it the same day. Other than a slightly sore and stiff upper arm today I am fine. I am so happy to get that jab. My MO's comment was that they usually don't recommend vaccines and infusion on the same day so they can isolate the cause of some weird reaction. Since I have been on H&P for awhile, should I have sudden health issues they can pretty much assume it is the vaccine. Something like that. He was casual about it because I have been ticking along quite nicely with good bloodwork.

I wonder why A Z vaccine is affecting largely the under 55 cohorts, usually it is us old farts who have the issues.

amontro: I can understand why there are concerns for you, if you have a history of bad reactions to shots. I would be cautious as well. I will say it again -- congrats on 12 years!!!

Stay safe everyone!!

I have now had both dozes of the Pfizer vaccine. 2nd shot was on 3/25. Had my quarterly petscan on Monday and it was "clear" as in NED for breast cancer. However, both right and left axillary nodes show hypermetabolic activity that is considered to be a typical reaction of the vaccine. Had a telehealth video call with my Oncologist who said this is common and she agrees it is the vaccine response and not worried. I had dose #1 on my off week of Ibrance and dose #2 on my last week of Ibrance cycle. When I checked with my onc. for the first dose (it was an extra dose so short notice) she told me to just get the vaccine and not worry about the timing. I only had arm soreness with the vaccines (no fever) and perhaps some fatigue but honestly, I just have fatigue - most likely from MBC treatment.

No, there is no current guidance about blood clots and the vaccines. Its mostly impacting younger women under the age of 50,and they are very specific types of clots - in the sinus cavity that also simultaneously lower platelet counts. They are still very rare, but the rate at which they are occurring is higher than you would expect to see naturally in that cohort. Pretty much the NHS is saying if you have a headache for more than 4 days to call your doctor.