New shingles vaccine

[Mkeman]

Everyone being treated for Prostate Cancer should consider getting the newer shingles vaccine. Given in two shots a couple of months apart, it is 90% effective compared to 50% for the old vaccine. Shingles can be very painful and debilitating and you should ask you PCP to arrange for the shots. I am getting the first shot next week on the advice of all of my docs.

[pjoshea13]

For those harboring the varicella zoster virus (anyone who has had chicken pox), the virus tends to be reactivated when the immune system is weakened - which may happen during PCa treatment.

My wife was hit with it in 2015, at the start of chemo for a plasmacytoma. She has been on anti-viral drugs ever since. At its worse, she spent 3 days in hospital for pain management. Her oncologist said that most of his multiple myeloma patients get a shingles attack. One lady had it for 9 months.

Get the shot.

-Patrick

[CantChoose]

The vaccine is in short supply at the moment and a booster is required, so make sure you ask the location where you are getting the first shot whether they have (or guarantee) the second.

[cigafred]

Agree we should, but motivation a bit lacking giving the cost and not knowing if one needs it.

[Firespooks]

I’ve been trying to get my shot . Drug store tells me it is in short supply. They have me on a waiting list.

[mcp1941]

My wife and I both got the two shots earlier this year. Her cost about $160 each shot. My cost $6 each shot because I was already in catastrophic coverage in January for copay on Erleada.

[DenDoc]

No co-pay on Kaiser Senior Advantage plans. It is considered Preventive. Short supply but they had a waitlist and we got it within a month.

Shingles is horrible for immune compromised people and bad enough for those who are not.

[j-o-h-n]

Let's remember our fallen military heroes this Memorial Day and always...

j-o-h-n Saturday 05/25/2019 12:38 PM DST

[GeorgeGlass in reply to j-o-h-n]

Concur John, 75th d day anniversary too!

[j-o-h-n in reply to GeorgeGlass]

Yep 2 more days.... Brave young men.... My oldest brother among them.... He finally came home on V.E. day and died years later from cancer...

j-o-h-n Tuesday 06/04/2019 11:43 AM DST

[GeorgeGlass in reply to j-o-h-n]

Tribute to your brother!

God bless him

[j-o-h-n in reply to GeorgeGlass]

Thank you... and I guess my brother Steve also thanks you... (And all those heroes from the greatest generation thank you).

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Saturday 06/22/2019 6:14 PM DST

[dentaltwin]

Seems to be in short supply here (probably everywhere). Got my first Shingrix dose 6 months ago (had gotten Zostavax several years back).

[Brook5318]

I had a shingles outbreak toward the end of ART.

[joekaty]

After seeing my husband get shingles, following docetaxel, while on Xtandi, I would absolutely recommend every one of you men have the vaccine. Had no idea how painful shingles would be and watching him go through it- wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

[Mkeman in reply to joekaty]

You should get it.too. Equally painful in women. Problem is getting it. I called my primary care doc and was told that there are 300 people on the waitlist. Tried multiple drug stores and they all have it on backlog.