Canadians in British Columbia

Pots: thank you for your rational words. I've been doing better with the Googling of things. While I think I might be mentally prepared for bad news, in reality I'm really not. My brain tends to drift off to dark places. I'm very lucky to have an amazing daughter who is stronger than I feel these days. I know she is stressed out and probably more scared than I am, but doesn't show it. We are very close and I've always been very honest with her. I need to be strong for her.

glad you got yours already wrenn! I have an appointment for the vaccine for April 1 under the clinically vulnerable category. I booked online at midnight on the Fraser Health website as it said we could book 24/7 starting March 29.

I received my letter today and am thrilled to say I am booked but earliest I could get in was April 9th. Can’t happen fast enough particularly given the numbers. Eek!

I called in at seven this morning, and got April 9, I am in richmond.

Great Ilowen. Timing is actually perfect for me as well if the scans indicate I will continue on Xeloda. I will just be starting my fourth cycle (one day in) so my blood should be in good shape.

Just got my Pfizer shot at UBC. So well organized!

I got the appointment with my “Clinically Extremely Vulnerable" letter (as well as my age). My younger friend got the same letter and was shocked to be included in the CEV group. We are both early stage breast cancers but are taking hormone therapy, finished all other treatment. I agree the language is upsetting. According to my research, hormone therapy doesn't affect the immune system so I don't see how we are extremely clinically vulnerable to COVID. But I am still glad we got a break.

Questions for other early stagers on hormone therapy:

• Were you upset to be described as “Clinically Extremely Vulnerable"?
• Do you think BC Cancer should have forewarned us or reworded the letter to avoid alarming those who are early stage on hormone therapy?

I am on the Vancouver Cancer Centre Patient Council and would like to give them some feedback at the next meeting if others found this distressing.

Meanwhile, hurray for the jab!

❤️
Pearl

Pearl, I am also early stage and currently on Letrozole. I was surprised to get the letter, as my understanding was that my situation did not put me in the “vulnerable” category. However I was pleased, rather than upset, to learn that I would be getting the vaccination ahead of my age cohort (I amscheduled for April 5).

I think that it would have been a huge undertaking to review all patient records to see who would qualify as CEV - they likely decided to err on the side of caution. Since we will all be eligible for the vaccine eventually, it seems sensible to me that everyone currently in treatment (regardless of stage, grade, etc.) should be offered the vaccination now. It seems that this decision may have delayed vaccinations for the age 65 - 71 group. I am in that group myself so can understand that the delay may be frustrating! No easy answers - I feel for those having to make these decisions on the fly with constantly changing information.

Dale

Dee I am sorry you have to wait. You should have been in the first group. My friends on Galiano Island over 80 got their shots on March 23 along with other vulnerable people (people who had home care, though younger) but I don’t think the CEV letters had gone out then. They were slow to send the letters.

It looks like they are prioritizing the Lower Mainland.

Dale it’s true that things are moving fast it’s hard for government to keep up. And probably complex to sort the database of cancer patients. I know BC Cancer is instituting a new system and it is not fully operational.

But people on active chemo should have been first in line. This was my friend’s concern, that she was taking someone else’s place.

Cathy, the second shot is unknown. I will still be careful after two weeks. Meanwhile I am staying home watching the cherry blossoms open!

Happy Easter everyone 🐣

Pearl

I think I'm just frustrated with how the rollout doesn't seem to be going well for the island, yet we are being inundated with tourists who think nothing of coming here for a vacation during a pandemic. I'm not worried about those who may have gotten a letter when they think maybe they shouldn't have. It just seems like some areas of the province have been left behind.

I've never seen so many out of province plates even in the summer as I have lately. We are never going to get rid of this if people don't smarten up.

Two of my friends, 60's in the lower mainland walked into a pharmacy yesterday afternoon at 4:30pm, asked if they could get the vaccine & yup, walked out 15 mins later. Not even an option on the island.

anyways, thanks for listening to me b*tch. take care all! cheers, dee

Hi everyone, I've been gone for a long time and I deleted my old posts. But I'm back now. I'm sad to see that Marian passed but inspired that she lived such a good life.

Feeling rather lonely with my new Stage IV diagnosis. But doing quite well, considering.

Saw moth's post for new peoppe with Stage IV re: nausea. Thanks for posting that.

Yeah Pots. My jab is on Friday. Who would have imagined I would be so looking forward to a vaccination!

To many this is not news as it's posted on other threads, but exactly 4 years after breast cancer it is now looking like I have uterine cancer. No biopsy yet, but ultrasound, to quote the ER doctor, 'is all bad news". Waiting to get appt with gyno. I am not holding it together at all and am falling apart. 

Hope everyone who gets the jab has only minimal side effects. 

So sorry to hear this Runor, my best thoughts are with you.

dee

Runor, know that you are in my thoughts during this difficult time. I’m wishing for good news and holding your hand when you stumble. You’re not alone.

Thank you everyone. 

Ilowen, yes, the stumble. I have fallen. Flat on my face. Today when Hub had to go back to work I so badly wanted to beg him to stay with me. Being alone with these thoughts is awful. But he is suffering too. He is a man who needs routine and things to be the same. Work is his safe place. I have to keep in mind this is hard on so many people. But I have stumbled down the black hole and I fear I will never get out. I have been Googling the long term effects of pelvic radiation and I had to stop. I had to walk away from the computer. There was no good news. I hope this goes well but my feelings and the ultrasound say otherwise. Says right on it, suspected malignancy. 

I hope all of you are supported in the trials that you face. Alone with it is an even heavier burden. Gratitude and hugs to all.