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

Even though I am Canadian and it shouldn't matter the things that go on in the US do affect us. When I see Biden being criicized it makes me very anxious. There are so many out there who seem to think Trump did anything good. (If he did one good thing the world missed it). Those who don't clue into the harm that Trump did scare me. If the US goes down (which it absolutely will if Trump gets more power) it poses a threat to all of us.

Our Prime Minister is not perfect but if our alternative was someone as frightening as trump I would cringe at any criticism of our PM.

ETA: there is no such thing as "both sides" when it comes to trump world. It is survival or not.

I am hoping that Australia will stick to its guns and not admit Djokovic to play in Australian open. The chutzpah of that guy to think that he has the right to skip the mandatory vaccine status because he is a "big name" in tennis. Doesn't seem to care that his lack of vaccine status places other players, the workers, and the Australian public at risk when they have so carefully tried to control their numbers. Last I checked he is an adult so his father playing the martyr card is despicable as well. The only martyrs would be those that he unwittingly might expose.

Chowdog, I'm sorry you think you should leave. Nobody said that or wants it! But when I open this thread and see you (or anyone) posting more or less the same thing over and over and over again, it makes it difficult for me (and some others) to want to participate.

Question for all---

I had the Moderna vaccine. Dose #1 Jan 2021, dose #2 Feb 2021. Then the CDC advised that immunocompromised folks get another full-dose vaccine to complete their PRIMARY series. So I got #3 in August (full dose of 100mcg of Moderna). Now I am going on 6 months (Feb) and was thinking I needed a "booster" due to waning immunity over time. But 1/2 dose (50 mcg) this time. I messaged my MO and nurse says not advising on 4 doses, just the 3. I asked about a blood test to test immunity--- she said there are none.

I reviewed CDC.gov site, and the way I read it, immunocompromised folks have 3 vaccines for Primary series, then a booster in 6 months. I told the nurse this and she is sticking with all we need is the 3 vaccines.

What do you all think? What is your MO's saying?

I am concerned about waning immunity over time--- 6 months from my last dose.

Serenity- I got my other Covid vaccines at a local pharmacy. I have not called them yet to ask if I can have the #4 vaccine. I thought I would ask my MO for her advice first. Then when the nurse said that they stop at 3 vaccines it stumped me. I also messaged my PCP to ask his advice (have not heard back yet). I will call the pharmacy next week and ask them if I need a doctor's order, or if I can just go in and get the shot.

Also, Serenity, on your profile it says you are on Ibrance. If that is correct currently, then are your white counts low? My white count on Lynparza is 2.0 (normal range is 5-10). I think that with a low white count that is "immunocompromised". Also, the CDC website says "current treatment for blood or solid tumor cancers".

Serenity- I am on Lynparza--- a PARP inhibitor. I don't know if stopping it has the same effect as Ibrance, or that my counts would bounce back timely. I take the Lynparza twice a day, every day, without time off like with Ibrance.

This is so confusing.

candy - It is definitely confusing. If you can't get clear information from your MO, check with the pharmacist.

Don't judge! And don't tell them the vaccine passport isn't required for delivery.

My hospital is postponing some heart and cancer surgeries.

https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/muhc-now-postponing-some-heart-and-cancer-surgeries

Glad you were able to have your surgery! Hope you have a full and swift recovery. The virus is so transmissible, it's become hard to avoid.

I read that QC will be moving seniors from hospitals to LTC facilities due to the hospitals getting overwhelmed by COVID. They did this during the first wave and killed off many seniors. We need an intervention! Help!

It is so hard not to hate. People who say they are " covid fatigued". Try chemo fatigue. Try worried who will be there for our child next year fatigued. Wear a damn mask, get the vaccine and yes, you can do a lot of fun things still, if we all did those 2 simple things. We went out to eat. We traveled. We felt safe while mandates were still in place last spring. We timed one strategic, masked, boosted trip in early November and it was wonderful. We bought Harry Potter masks and Jurassic word masks, tried to spread out, used lots of hand sanitizer and had an amazingly great trip. We let our kid compete in cross country and return to in person learning last fall too. Now everyone relaxed too soon or got "tired" and they don't want to mask up again. Boo hood!

No one promised a vaccine for a virus was perfect or how long it would last. Anyone who has ever had a flu virus shot knows you have to time it so you don't get it too early or you risk ( if it was even the right mix that year) running out after 5-6 months.

10yrs ago I went from a great, healthy happy day at the horse barn, to the shower, a lump, a mam, ultrasound, biopsy, bone scan, cat scan, onc appts and chemo in 2 1/2 weeks flat. 6 yrs ago for recurrence we did a whirlwind Rediagnosis, scans and set up a dual axillary dissection and complete hysterectomy surgeries in 3 1/2 weeks flat. I dont think many hospitals can make that happen right now?

My adult son (who lives with us) and I have been sick for almost a week. He got sent home from work last Monday and I got it starting the next evening. There's a lot of sneezing and coughing but no other Omicron symptoms like night sweats. But I'm triple vaxxed and not as sick as my double-vaxxed son, so who knows? Hubby hasn't found any home test kits - the drugstores are out, and it's too damn cold to go out to one of the testing sites, which have limited days and hours anyway. Hubby hasn't caught it yet, and it's a very small house with nowhere to hide. Kind of confusing situation.

flurona, deltacron...I'm staying home!!!

Alice - Hope your husband stays well and you and son improve. Try to ventilate as well as you can. PCR testing is limited to select groups here, and rapid tests are almost impossible to find.

Be wary of new named viruses. So far, we only need worry about delta, omicron, and the current flu.

My daughter is sending me her pulse ox and temp readings periodically as proof of life. She seems to be improving. She's eligible to sign up for her booster on Friday.

My husband got his booster. He's AZ/Pfizer/Moderna. Should be omicron-proof soon.

Thanks, all. It's mostly just messy, like a head cold with lots of sneezing & blowing and some dry coughing for me. Son has more coughing but he feels okay. He's always had noisier colds, which makes it hard to tell based on sound effects. It's too damn cold to ventilate! But it's an older house with the last window work in the 1950s, so it's probably better ventilated than the hermetically sealed modern horrors. However, my coughing has reactivated my usually inert umbilical hernia, so UGGHHH. I hope it will settle down again because one, with Covid, surgeries are off, two, it was already getting pretty big (like 8 cm), and three, I don't need any more stinkin' scar tissue in that neighborhood! There's the original hernia repair from the 90s, the hysterectomy (and hernia repair destruction by a lying shit doctor) from 2008, and the nephrectomy with a bunch of satellite scars from 2018. Not sure if I've reached my lifetime limit on laparoscopic abdominal surgeries. Guess it's time for an oh-so-stylish lady truss. 🤮