Canadians in British Columbia

Pots, I haven’t progressed yet but I guess I’ll find out soon (scans this week). Sorry if my post was worded poorly.

Runor, I remember some very important advice that many on this site have given prior to an official diagnosis ... stay away from Dr. Google. You are not a stat, you are a unique individual and your experiences are yours and yours alone. If Dr. Google was all-knowing, I’d likely be on my death-bed right now or in a wheelchair and I’m clearly not.

I was curious about how BC health authorities determine who is considered “Clinically Extremely Vulnerable” and therefore eligible for early Covid vaccination. Found this on the govt website

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/cev

Cancer

• You're having systemic therapy for cancer now or you have had it in the past 12 months. This includes chemotherapy, molecular therapy, immunotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, hormonal therapy for cancer
• You're having radiation therapy for cancer now or in the past 6 months
• You're having or had targeted cancer treatments that can affect the immune system such as CAR-T cell treatments in the past 6 months
• You have blood or bone marrow cancer (such as leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic disorders)
• You have had a bone marrow or stem cell transplant in the past 6 months, or are still taking immunosuppressant medicine related to your transplant

Well that’s unfortunate to hear, Sadiesservant. There’s so much they’re still learning about this bug and the vaccines. I get my jab on Wednesday. Hoping my SEs won’t be any worse than a sore arm.

Runor, you aren't alone. I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. It is so hard. We're here for you. The anxiety is very difficult. Post here as often as you need to. Sending love.

In lower mainland BC Canada and starting AC chemo on Thursday. Looking for ways to mitigate neuropathy. Any idea of how to access products to ice hands and feet?

SaraJay, you don't need to ice for the AC part imo. I ice for taxol & now nab-paclitaxol. I use rectangular icepacks from Superstore, roughly 5x10 cm? for my feet I fold them in half, stick my toes in & then put on top of them giant over size socks (stolen from my husband) just to keep them on.

for hands, used to do the same & then stick oven mitts over them to keep them on & insulated. That was back when dh or someone else was able to come with me for chemo & they'd jam the mitts on for me & adjust my headphones & hold up my cup to drink. Now that I'm alone & need my hands, I just keep the icepacks folded over & secured with a rubber band & slip my fingers in.

I bring them all in my own cooler on wheels, packed with hard sided icepacks to keep them cold. I swap out every 20 min or so. Taxol infusions I went through lots as it was a long drip. My nab-pacli is only 30 min. I start icing about 5 min before & keep them on about 5 min after so I only swap once now.

rubber bands help to keep them in place if you're doing it alone

I think dh got the icepacks for something like $4 each. It ended up being the cheapest and easiest solution.

btw, I'm like the only person who ices at Surrey. All the nurses know me now as the crazy lady with the icepacks but I've got the last word as I've lasted a year on taxanes with very minimal neuropathy & it's the major reason people stop treatment with it so I'm just ignoring all the raised eyebrows. They *still* only think icing is for taxotere and for them it's for cosmetic reasons to prevent nail loss/blackening ...

yes surrey has ice mitts for hands too but I thought they weren't as good as mine and they had nothing for feet

Moth,

I'll look into options, ad I have time before Taxol.

Looks like I'll be on a Thursday schedule for now. When are you there?

There's a chance we could cross paths on May 20 🙂

moth: am I reading your post correctly? You are going to Surrey for TX? Are you still on a trial that BCCA doesn't "support" ? It is a good thing the bridge is no longer a toll bridge.

moth: I still have my little sticker thing. Basically your car was recorded to and from using the bridge and then you were billed. There was a free period and I still seldom had need to cross. It has been awhile since the toll came off. After the last election? Do you feel like a "rarity"?

GG27. They are very careful at the Fairmont and only allow 2 people on the elevator at the same time. Any time I have been there in the last year I have been the only one on the elevator. They aren't as busy these days. My NP's clinic (UBC Family Practice) does phone or video appointments before booking anyone in person and that is only if 'in person is really needed. I haven't been in a while since phone worked for me but I expect it to be the same.

Hard not to worry but I think you will be ok. Good luck with your treatment.

ETA that I am not doing the treatment you mentioned.

I was afraid to go at first too since I remembered it being very squishy or long waits for elevator because they were all full. I used to have to go to the 8th floor too for oncologist but now only to 4.

So far, the parking lot, the pay station and elevators have been almost empty. They only allow you to go in one direction on level 2 (where the parking lot is) to go in our out.

These days I still wear 2 masks and a face shield. It is crazy out there. Stay safe.

To All; I would love love love to see my MO in person. He is so good about returning my emails, even for stupid things and we talk every other month. But face-to-face is so much better. I think it was late Feb early March 2020 when I last saw him.

My MO is on the ground floor of Lion's Gate. The elevator from the parking lot is usually empty or has one person in it. The main entrance and other elevators to the upper floors is also on the ground. Currently the oncology department is completely separated from the rest of the hospital. There is a barrier or some form of plastic sheeting blocking off the rest of the floor. I feel about a safe as one can feel.

Pandemics are hard in so many ways. It will be so comforting to get back to the way things were but I have a feeling it will be a while. I still feel pretty lucky that we have the technology to do video calls or even phones. I remember crank phones. I guess in the "olden" days they didn't expect much.