There is an interesting article showing that when men who have prostate cancer develop shingles and are given valaciclovir, there seems to be significant prostate cancer cell death.
Shingles is an oportunistic condition that surfaces when immune function is compromised. Shingles vaccines are only partially effective.
When my wife had a recurrence of a plasmacytoma in 2015, she developed shingles. She received Aciclovir for 4 days, but was in hospital this time 5 years ago, for pain management.
Her oncologist told me that more than half of his multiple myeloma patients develop shingles. His approach was to use Aciclovir continuously. Her current oncologist has had her on 500mg Valaciclovir prophylactically for over 3 years. Note: Valaciclovir is a prodrug for Aciclovir.
One of the study cases cited "was treated with valaciclovir 1 g tid over 10 d". This is somewhat in line with conventional short-term treatment that her doctor prescribed. However, note that Valaciclovir can also be used continuously.
"Aciclo-GTP, the active triphosphate metabolite of aciclovir, is a very potent inhibitor of viral DNA replication."
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.