Lately I've been noticing a lot of general fear of death from the Coronavirus around me, in the news, freinds, family, even people you meet in the grocery store. There's no doubt it's a serious disease and people do have good reason for concern.
But after having stage 4 PCa for three years, I'm realizing now how much I've been forced to work through those same fears about death. I can see the contrast and It feels like I'm in a different world.
I talked with someone at the grocery store today who was pointing out the large crowd in the store and how that was probably panic shopping because of the Coronavirus. He asked me if I was afraid, not mentioning death, but then pointing out how it is killing 2% of people who get it, by the way. "Well, not exactly." I tried to explain how dealing with something that has a 100% chance of killing you changes how you see things. I see this fear touching others around me, but it's not touching me. This is hard to explain to someone who hasn't been through the process. There's not a lot left to be afraid of now and that's so empowering. For me, fear is the final frontier, the last lesson to learn here.
Not to minimize the Coronavirus, I really do hope it's gotten under control soon and I am concerned for others. Just wanted to share this observation.
Us PCa folks are living in another dimension, we have a disease that's magnitudes higher than the Coronavirus 2% fatal outcome, that's causing wide spread fear.
But, yet, we continue to live out our lives, fearlessly...
It worries me as we already have challenged immune systems fighting a loosing battle with our PCa. I don’t want it challenged any further with this virus.
Agree, none of us want to add more problems and we all have to take reasonable precautions.
Just tired of the worrying. I've spent too much of my life worrying about things I can't change. It destroys the quality of life that we are fighting to have.
Me too, although they are worried more about me. They know I'm vulnerable, especially with my lungs damaged from the PCa. Most of my family members are younger and healthy. I'm glad for that.
I am not concerned for myself. But I am concerned for my son, who works in the health field, and his 8 year old daughter.
However, it is worth noting that the deaths tend to occur in those with a weakened immune response.
In the U.S. the flu has killed 18,000 this season so far. & it will be back next winter & the next & do the same thing. Yet the flu doesn't cause panic.
For years I resisted the flu shot. At age 71 last fall, I decided it was time to start. & I also got the pneumonia shot. Seemed prudent. For the same reason, I have started using astragalus, which is an immunomodulator.
I was thinking the same thoughts. Why coronavirus is causing so much fear compared to Influenza which has killed more people than coronavirus in same time span .
Good idea, I have been getting the flu shot for years and got the pneumonia shots (last year was first then this year for the second in series) . We have to do all we can to keep our immune system healthy through supplements and healthy eating with exercise.
Hi Gregg, you are right on about us being more tuned into our mortality than most! Regarding the Coronavirus, the CDC estimates that 34 mil. to 49 mil. Americans have gotten the regular flu this season. If we assume the number is about in the middle, say 42 mil., and the Coronavirus eventually hits that number of Americans, we could see about 2% or over 800,000 deaths from the virus! It’s a big assumption to assume that many illnesses, but that’s probably what public health experts are worried about.
None of us have any immunities against it and those us with weaked immune systems from cancer or on drugs like chemotherapy are definitely more at risk. I'm certainly in that category.
Although I don't have any immunities to Coronavirus, it sure does seem like I am becoming immune to fears of death.
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You’ve reached an epiphany . To fear not death is really living . F the corona virus ...
Hmm... OK, I'm 71 and I choose to work as a self employed medical courier, to keep me active and alive (my smart watch pedometer is clocking me at between 7k to 8k steps a day).
I walk thorough hospitals and doctors offices all day (in CT) and have yet to see any sense of panic (a few masks).
I do sanitize frequently (I'm a bit of a germophobic and I'm one of the guys who drops the paper towel after exiting the men's room).
Bottom line: I'm not sweating this (yet!).
Best
I just read about a woman who is stuck on a cruise ship in quarantine "in case" she has the Coronavirus. Meanwhile she actually does have advanced cancer that is killing her and they won't let her off to start her chemotherapy. Wow, that's F-ed up. I would raising hell if I were her.
Proof that the world is crazy. Of course, I suspect if I were to catch the coronavirus my MO wouldn't let me in the door to get an infusion. Too much risk to his staff and other patients. Even if it's not deadly to them it could mean key people being unavailable for weeks.
The combination of chemo and coronavirus might be fatal--within days.
Follow the protocol to stay healthy. The respirators are helpful. That is why it is said that the caregivers need the respirators and the general public shouldn't be hoarding the supplies.
I think it is time that it is acknowledged that those whose immune systems are compromised should be allotted respirators.
If you didn't know, the Japanese have been giving patients receiving chemo PSK since the 1980's with good results. PSK is Turkey Tail mushroom. It helps to maintain the patient's immune system while receiving chemo. Look it up.
I swear by the Neulasta on-body injector when it comes to supporting white blood cell counts during chemo. Heck, I even took an international trip for 2 weeks between taxotere #5 and #6 and did just fine.
"What we saw in Wuhan, China, is that 15 percent of older people had a chance of dying after being infected. And we’re seeing the same thing in Washington state."
Gregg. Well said. As a fellow monster fighter the virus is just doesn’t scare me much. Dealing Dailey with this monster I have already made my peace with the good lord and made all the plans I can. Just no panic left in me 😊. 🙏🙏🙏
Hard not to project our near frantic therapeutic searches for ourselves and fellow survivors in consideration of those cancer unaffected in face of this unpredictable emerging disease. I think we survivors are uniquely sensitive in looking out for the other guy given our heightened awareness to the wide range of possibilities and implied preventive interventions limiting our family friends and communities risks...we’re conditioned as flightless public healthcare canaries
Good observation! It has been reported that last year over 19,000 people died from the "regular" flu by February 15th. The year before --whoa! 80,000 in the US of A! Link below!
Flu Season: Up to 19,000 People Have Died; Vaccine ...
The flu vaccine is the CDC's best "guesstimate" of the strain that will be circulating. The last I knew all flu vaccines were manufactured in one plant in the UK. Last year's vaccine was reported in the article to be 47% effective. How that is determined I wouldn't know. Vaccinate test subjects and then intentionally expose them to the flu???
Excerpts from the article dated 02/15/2019:
"The current flu season started at the beginning of October and lasts until May. As of Feb. 9, between 15.4 million and 17.8 million people nationwide have caught the flu, the Centers for Disease and Control reported.
Two million of those cases came in the week that ended Feb. 9. The CDC warned that was the highest flu activity it has seen this season, USA Today reported.
There have been 11,600 to 19,100 deaths so far."
"Between 184,000 and 221,000 people have been hospitalized with the flu so far this season.
The CDC said the flu typically kills 12,000 to 56,000 people in the U.S. in a year."
I was astonished when reading the numbers the CDC reported from last year.
The point I am making is that the garden variety flu is itself deadly. I never get vaccinated for flu because it is a coin toss as to whether the "guesstimate" was correct for the strain circulating . I keep my immune system strong. I never touch my mouth, nose or eyes when I am in public waiting until I can wash my hands--speaking of which air dryers in restrooms spread germs! There is a certain protocol to washing one's hands. make sure that enough paper toweling is available so that the dispenser lever isn't needed and never touch the faucet handle to turn off the flow of water when done washing! That is the first fomite touched by everyone's hand who needs to wash their hands! The paper toweling used to dry hands turns off the faucet and is used to open the door. If someone coughs or sneezes I hold my breath until I put distance between us.
It is necessary to shop and even worse, go to doctor's offices, labs and pharmacies. I've noticed that there are ill people in some of these places!
Be aware. Stay healthy. We have enough in our lives as it is.
I think there is also a bigger picture issue for us stage 4 PCa survivors. We are dealing with something that will eventually kill 100%, but many will die indirectly as a result of other things. This is just one more thing on that list for us. Once you've been weakend by the cancer, or something else, that's when you become most vulnerable. Overall, the picture doesn't change that much for us.
Fomite? I thought it was a misprint so I looked it up on Google. My spellchecker however, does not recognize it (wants to change it to "omitted"). I've been using paper towels on the handles for over 45 years when I worked in a nursing home. There we were taught to wash our hands for 3 minutes. So what's with the measly 20 seconds now recommended?
Common fomites encountered daily, money, your credit card when extracted from the reader, any type of pen, shopping carts and baskets, food packaging, checkout belts at the register and even the shopping bags. The soles of your shoes when you return home have been through the quite an experience including walking through dried spit.
I read that the virus is in a capsule composed largely of lipids. Soap quickly dissolves it. It is said that even soaking raw produce in warm water for a period of time make the produce safe. That might be a bit of a stretch but cooking produce certainly will make it safe to eat.
Contracting this is also dependent on the individual's health, the strength of their immune system and the viral load they are exposed to.
New York State no longer allows stores that are required to collect sales tax to provide single use plastic bags at the checkout. They can still be used for meats and bulk vegetables. So now the big player in this area (Wegmans) is selling a plastic coated tote bag for 99 cents. The don't look easy to wash except by wiping down with cleaner/disinfectant. I wonder how many people do that. They're not suitable to put in the washer. They'll sell you a paper bag (no handles) for a nickel. We've accumulated about 20 canvas totes which I use instead. If I forget to bring them in the store I just have the cashier put the groceries back in the cart and roll them out to the car. Trader Joe's provides nice paper bags with handles for free and will double bag when necessary.
As far as the shoes go, I usually have to stand in a puddle when using the urinal in a public men's room so I'm sensitive to what is tracked in on my shoes. Having BPH it is unwise for me to "postpone urination". Growing up we were never allowed to get 5 feet from the door before taking our shoes off, and then had to wear slippers (no stocking feet).
We also had to wash down the glass milk bottles delivered by the milkman before putting them in the refrigerator.
The virus is supposed to remain infectious on cardboard surfaces for two days. That estimate could change but that was yesterday's info. Cardboard and paper? Not much difference there.
Again, one's health is a defense against contracting it. The healthier one is the heavier the viral load one needs to be exposed to --to a certain point.
Stay healthy!
Currumpaw
I don't think that all of the concerns about this virus relate to health or survival. The economic effects could be severe and could translate into losses in retirement accounts. It is crimping travel and large gatherings are being canceled. I wonder if the WSOP (world series of poker) in Las Vegas will have to be canceled. That would be a bummer ... but it might save me some money.
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The gambler! Got to know ! It’s a true game of skill . I had a friend that could count cards and was a degenerate gambler . That turned me off to the fun . I do understand the rush of the game . I’m just not good at it . I love to watch the pros. Good luck , if they don’t cancel . Win big ! Let me know?
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I wouldn't be playing the big-time main event, just a smaller event or two. I'd be pleased if I 'cashed' -- finished in the top 15% of the field. It has become an annual pilgrimage of sorts for me. I drive up from Glendale, AZ.
My husband who has recently started cabazitaxel (his 3rd type of chemo) has low white cell counts. COVID19 is in the region, and I as his main caregiver am afraid to bring it home to him. He says he's not worried, but I want him as healthy as possible for as long as possible. We're avoiding other people. He's lucky to work from home when he can. I'm limiting my outings. We're hanging out alone together.
I've been thinking a lot about people who have to go on chemotherapy and how it's just such a tough position to be in. I do think the right decision is to do the chemo and just be super careful, particularly around day 10 when you are at your most vulnerable. The blood counts dip with chemo, but then go back up so he won't be at the same risk the entire cycle which is good. Just have to keep a sharp eye on his body temp and make sure it's under 100.4
I am also looking at Cabazitaxel as my next treatment, but not sure when that will be.
Hoping the best for you both, will be thinking of you.
My son has admitted that he doesn't want to come over and visit because he's afraid he might expose me, especially with him being on a busy college campus all day. My daughter and son-in-law also have various "reasons" why they can't make it. It's making me sad.
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That’s sucks in a way . But it really shows they care about you . Schools are targets of incubation. This will
Hi, here at ground zero. Actually, a bit less than 5 miles from the Life Care facility where most US deaths have occurred. Getting a bit crazy now. The entire (large) Northshore School district has closed. Instead, they have all students now doing school online. Two major universities in the area as well, University of WA, and Seattle U. As for work places, if you can work from home, you are told to do so. I am fortunate to be in that category, which is good as I returned to work 9 months ago, due to my medical expenses with my PCa bout.
For all here, use common sense and you should be ok. There is enough published in the news to inform you on what best to do. Stay healthy, and live long.
Somewhere in my medical research data base, I believe I have a few scientific papers that suggest most viruses cannot survive in a human body that is in an alkaline state. I would appreciate any scientific feedback on this.
In my recent 3rd Edition book, I suggest that the body pH should be maintained at between 7.3 and 7.4. Most people with poor diets see their pH below 7, which sees their bodies acidic. Cancer cells thrive in such an environment but die in an alkaline environment. To repeat: it is essential to maintain an alkaline body state.
How do we achieve this? By doing something like the following:
Change the diet by eliminating the ‘bad guy’ foods referred to earlier and stepping up the intake of the ‘good guy’ foods.
An early morning glass of water with sodium bicarbonate (one teaspoon) as well as taking magnesium and potassium supplements help the alkalizing process, as does a lemon a day squeezed into a glass of water.
A little bicarb! An aunt had a double mastectomy in the mid 1960's, no chemo of course and no radiation. In the 2000's she mentioned that she was in the habit of taking a little bicarb in the morning to prevent any flatulence she might have. She never had recurrence and died in 2014 at the age of 99. She ate a normal diet but also grew some of her own vegetables.
As for the lemon--it might be much more effective if you sliced a lemon and blended the entire lemon, skin and seeds, in cold water, to make a bitter lemonade which could wash down a vitamin C supplement.
The "green drinks" will help keep one's body alkaline.
"Cell Food" will help maintain a normal, slightly alkaline pH.
Just found out today someone in my Son's class has been sent home on 2 week quarantine, for suspected Corona virus. Came back from Italy last week and became ill.
I'm not in the middle of Chemo or Radiation so I'm assuming my immune system should be strong enough right now.
Estonia went on lock down last week, I'm glad to say there was no panic buying and all the shops are stocked full, I think this helps maintain a level of calm, specially for the old people. The young seem to be helping the old by shopping for them.
My only concern is I couldn't get my drugs and had to go to the Hospital Pharmacy, I would prefer not to go inside the Hospital for mine and others safety, it's kinda surreal seeing the Army outside the Hospital.
In Rhode Island a week ago people stripped the shelves of bottled water, toilet paper, pasta, meat and fresh produce. I thought the store had thrown all the boxed salads, and fresh stuff away but I was told it had been bought! No garlic, no onions--interesting times! Hoarding! I couldn't help but laugh!
Schools will be closed for at least another two weeks. The colleges ARE closed. Tele-education! Stores closing earlier. Different times.
Filing for federal income tax has been extended for two months. I take that as the governments assessment that this will last at least another month.
A strange "tradition" in Rhode Island when snow is predicted is that Rhode Islanders stock up on bread and milk. The shelves are sometimes nearly emptied. The meteorologists work it well! The Blizzard of 1978 likely started that tradition. In the northern part of the state where I worked there was nearly five feet. At the airport where the state's weather is officially recorded the snow was measured as being between two and three feet.
Great observation! We face a punched ticket with more of an expiration date than others, yet people without disease (as well as with disease) can die from innumerable causes unrelated to our diseases or this one disease like CoronaVirus. I am a Christian so my belief is that people need to be saved so they know where they will go. For those not saved, or unbelievers, they still need to focus on now and not the future. There is no way to predict it or stall it out by worrying.
Best to use common sense and not be focused on the unknown end. One thing is certain, we will all die from something. We as cancer patients have an opportunity to talk to scared folks about a walk with illness and maybe bring peace to them.
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