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

Alice, Since health care here is free I basically had a very large file and am surprised at how patient my GP was. I have a nurse practitioner at the cancer centre now (doc retired) and there they follow up on every little thing so I was seeing her a lot too. We actually laughed about how i thought everything was cancer and she would double check before ordering anything. So really it is a good thing that the pandemic kept me away but for some reason very recently I have worried. Probably cabin fever.

Wrenn, I don’t think. Richard looks like a leg eater. 😁 He was gorgeous and, a pussy cat I’m sure. I’m glad you are feeling a bit better and hope you will reach out if stress starts to get on top of you. I can’t pop over easily but am a good listener. 😊

Alice, totally hear you on the issue of seeming like a hypochondriac. It’s a HUGE issue for me despite or because of my MBC diagnosis. Prior to MBC I rarely went to a doctor but now? OMG! I feel like I am there all the time as it is but then, when I report a new symptom I end up in the fast lane. Don’t get me wrong, I really appreciate the responsiveness but when tests come back normal I have a huge amount of guilt (wasting precious health care resources) and, quite frankly, feel like I am neurotic. The reality is, I am probably right thinking something is going on more often than I am wrong but still… for those of us raised to stay calm and carry on, this disease and the resulting angst is crazy making!

Serenity, soooo irritated with the Ottawa occupation and the fact that the official opposition seems to be supporting them. It needs to be recognized that this is a very vocal minority. Thankfully the Go Fund Me gravy train has been cut off so hopefully they will go home..

Wren thank you for giving voice to those anxieties and fears we all can have. I truly hope you find some relief from the worry. Handsome Richard certainly looks large enough to nosh on a leg, but I agree with Sadiesservant, I think he is more of a sweetie. I am sorry you are unable to have the furry companionship. I will offer a spare bedroom as I have plenty of furry ones down here. However, I won't guarantee that mine are as well behaved as Richard

Wrenn, So glad you're feeling better!

Thanks. With my high BP yesterday and headache I was thinking the worst. Here is BP yesterday (top row) and today (bottom row) after an Ativan sleep. All about the chill.

Thanks so much Rah,

Something worrying about this pandemic is the provinces lifting restrictions. I think in Alberta it is because of the truck convoys putting pressure on them (which means more convoys...what's with the confederate flags????).

I think BC will take a little longer to open up which feels safer but also is a reminder that this thing isn't going away and we have to adapt.

Hope everyone is having a manageable day. Not one of those "have a great day" moments in history.

Excellent. Now for that to be made into a usable mask.

I think its way too early in cities. And for any transit going into cities. And for people planning to visit cities. There is just no such thing as being 6 feet away in nyc!!! It physically can't happen. Store aisles are tighter and more crowded. Buses and subway cars are back to standing room only. In my 900 unit building, I am sharing the elevator air with every previous rider of the past hour. The "highest" in area vax rate is Manhattan at 72%. What happened to herd immunity at 95%, 90%, then 85%...? And why should unvaxxed tourists eat out when I can't because of them? Relaxing everything in big open spaces with big box stores, big SUVs, and big chain restaurants might be acceptable in vaccinated areas. But NOT in densely populated areas. The same people who won't vax also wont mask.

I am currently not so worried about being sick as I am about more delays in treatment. Until the medical establishment says I don't need to show keep negative covid tests to have Mri, a CT scans, bone scans, biopsies, surgery, have my radiation mapping.. . It is still a pandemic. Anyone who thinks it is over should have to get a negative test to use their GD toilet.

Its not over. 72% vaxxed NYC is not herd immunity. Allowing tourists to eat inside with no vax proof is prolonging this spread.

Ok, maybe we won't get AS sick now (I know of dozens of break through, mostly pretty mild, but 2 friends were hospitalized). But I (and MANY others) can be DENIED TREATMENT because somebody didn't feel like getting vaxxed or wearing a mask, and then we test positive.

It is TOO early to abandon both vax restrictions AND mask mandates at the same time. My child cannot go to school next week until I see how things play out.

illimae i love how you are always so calm and positive. I hope people continue to respect that some people really need community protection.

edgeofnoreturn, my husband and I have stayed safe from Covid, colds, flu, etc. by employing faiy strict precautions and common sense. We still mask indoors in public, although we’ve been busy and just don’t go out much. I will relax some and try going maskless in the nearby very small town when the situation allows (not when tourists are around). I’m stage IV too and my husband is diabetic, so neither of us are taking risks.

I hope everyone else is doing well 🙂

Hi all!

I am new in this thread.

I am in California being treated at COH. Today, masks are off in most places. I wear mine always. I agree about the medical offices. At COH, they took off the tape between seats in the waiting rooms that I have only known since diagnosis in July of 2021. Temperatures are not being taken either. Masks are a must. I was supposed to have my right breast removed as a precaution, but my blood clot diagnosis likely from my Feb 9th mastectomy/ovary and fallopian tube removal has postponed the surgery. Would i have needed the PCR Covid test again? Four times this last year. Once more when i was hospitalized.

My sister, older, did not get the vaccine. She does wear masks. She also has not had the genetic test to see if she also carries BRCA2. I have the cancer; our younger sister and her daughter were tested, and they both carry the mutated gene. My older brother was just tested. His results have not come in.

COVID. I had a student worker who used to work in my office, pass along with his father from Covid last year. Many sick. December of this 2021, i went to my older brother's daughters baby shower. I and one other were masked. It was my only holiday outing.

2 weeks later, I was tested at COH and had Covid. Since i had been vaccinated. I mainly got a chest cold. 2 bottles and 8 days of Mucinex. I had a lot of fatigue as well, which combined with the effects of the chemo pill i had just finished in later December.

I was hospitalized mid-January due to low blood counts. I needed a transfusion. They tested me and i was still positive. I was isolated in a "Covid Room". Released after my blood transfusion the same day. No one wants those with Covid to be staying in rooms at the COH. Nearly everyone in there is ill. I had another in a room across from me. I could only use the porta potty in my room. Everything i touched was tossed. The nurse was double masked. I did not know my door had a "Do not enter" on it. That was why my lunch was not delivered till my nurse came back from lunch. It was cold.

As i said above, Feb 6th i was tested again and NO covid. Surgery happened.

No trips for me except November of 2020 before diagnosis. Went to visit my younger sister in Western NY and we traveled 7 states in a Covid drive around. There was little traffic and few people. We booked our rooms on book it.com . WE had a grand time. We wore masks, sanitized and enjoyed time that would never happen like that again.

I do pray all of you get your treatments and keep calling till they see you. COH has been fabulous. There triage team has helped me every time. I hope you have one.

Gladis your seroma can self absorb, and can take a while to do so. As Moth said as long as no pain, redness, warmth or other signs of infection you should be ok. But I would still push to be seen and to have it drained if necessary. If you have a workout bra or a compression bra/tank that may help. Place additional padding (I used medical grade abdominal pads) over the area with the seroma to create extra compression and that can speed absorption. I had a seroma post surgery and this is what my PS instructed me to do. It resolved after about 6 weeks.

The pandemic was mostly a blessing for me. I finished chemo first week of March 2020. NJ locked down about a week later. I went to radiation every day right when the major lockdown happened. I enjoyed getting out of the house when the rest of my family was there driving me nuts. I did the shopping as my husband felt he was higher risk because he smokes and is overweight, idiot. When I went back to work in June, I was able to work from home while starting the horrible AI/lupron, ovary removal journey, which would have never happened before as a state worker. I've been struggling really bad for almost 2 years on AIs, so really need the extra sleep work from home provides. I was able to grow my hair back without seeing too many people. I was able to drive my son to soccer in August AM, because of course high school sports discriminates against working mothers. My kids liked being remote for a year and a third. But they already are socially awkward, so that was the bad part of the pandemic. But am so grateful they were 7th and 9th grade, and not in elementary or graduating in 2020. My 87 yo father and his girlfriend still socialized with us outside. We are just this year back to the office full time, but in July will implement a new partial work from home policy which would have never happened before. The other negative is haven't seen the kids' other grandfather in over 2 years. He won't leave the house or even zoom call. He lives close. Also haven't seen mother-in-law in Florida, but I don't mind that, lol.

dancemom,

I feel for you. Unfortunately unless there is law or mandate you can’t make people be respectful. Too many have difficulty considering others.