A long overdue blog post. In this installment, I write about what I learned after getting a Covid vaccine while on chemo. Big spoiler: Avoid getting the shot just before a CT scan, it can cause artifacts that look like cancer progression.
Also, I haven't made any progress towards my BHAG as my aerobic capacity and endurance were decimated after getting the vaccine. There are signs my endurance might be improving again, hopefully to be followed by the ability to process oxygen faster than a 90 year old couch potato.
The immune response to "infection" (whether a vaccine or actual virus) usually results in swelling of the lymph nodes. If they were already a bit large to begin with...
In one of the UroToday videos I watched last week they showed a scan and mentioned caution when interpreting results after a person had been vaccinated. In the scan referred to, the person had received a PSMA, but it probably would hold true for other scans.
Sorry to hear that you had unwanted effects from the vaccine coupled with your chemo. Trust you are continuing to make steady progress and soon be back to normal. Sounds like things are almost back on 'track'.
Thank you for the link to your blog. It is of particular interest to and relevance for my husband who hasn't yet had the vaccine and possibly needing a PSMA and maybe about to start chemo. Very helpful information. Greatly appreciated and very timely.
Hi Marnie Hope you and your husband are doing well. It's been a long time since we communicated, but I think of you quite often. May I ask, in the video, did it give any indication of how long one should wait after the vaccine (Astra-Zenica in our case) before having a PSMA PET scan? Cheers Gail
I've copied the link to the video and you should also be able to read the transcript of the interviews if the link displays the same for you as it does for me. I've checked through and there doesn't seem to be any consensus from the panel on how long to delay scans after having the vaccine...I suspect this is uncharted territory. Although the video was relevant to the U.S. the scans being referred to were PSMA's as well as other types.
I found Tom's blog linked in his post had some interesting 'tips' as well.
Like you, we are only eligible to access AZ and I’m hanging out for Pfizer or Moderna later in the year. Ron’s happy to have AZ but as his pc situation has changed recently, and in light of the info on the video, I’ve encouraged him to wait in case he needs scans or chemo. Not sure if you listen to the Coronacast podcast but I have put the question to Norman Swan, so I’ll let you know if he answers me.
I hope you and Jurgen are both well. I simply cannot believe it’s so long since we connected. So much has happened here in the meanwhile and I suspect a fair bit has happened for you too. I’ll message you directly with an update and look forward to hearing your news. Marnie.
Thanks for sharing the link! It further drives home the point that this is new territory and that doctors just don't know yet how frequently and for how long the vaccine will affect imaging tests. I've also seen an even bigger lack of data about the effect on blood marker tests.
Very interesting. I showed progression on scans and blood work a month after my second vaccine shot. This week I will learn from blood work if my PSA reverses course and heads lower again two months after that shot.
Informative and insightful post as usual. The concept that the vaccine causes altered cell metabolism is perhaps the reason for the side-effects which occur shortly thereafter post injection (which for me lasted 5 days)“ Side effects willing” is a great way we , at times, have to plan. Great line “ I wouldn’t dive into a mosh pit of anti-vaxxers “. Praying your next scans continue to show improvements and that the additional lung “artifacts” turn out to be just that!
The vaccine issue with scans was reported in January, in the context of mammograms. Lymph node changes affect more than 10% of women taking the vaccine.
Even with a lower male response, the problem should have been common enough for doctors to be wary.
Unfortunately mom is on injured reserve, having sprained her ankle because she forgot how to get down on the floor, improvised by squatting down and leaning back, and injuring herself in the process. Can't make this stuff up. I did manage to get my sister out for a mile+ walk along the sea wall by Long Island Sound, but not far enough to qualify for a BHAG.
I havent got shot yet....and dont plan to....unless persuaded by the"thinkers" in this group...meaning guys like u who use aerobic capacity.....instead of out of breath....i live in texas so i still have some freedom....
You want to get the shot, unless you're feeling very lucky being in amongst a lot of free thinking vaccine skeptics. I know several people who have gotten the virus. One is a marathoner who can't manage a brisk walk anymore. Another is a cancer patient who ended up in the hospital on oxygen, then in rehab for several weeks before returning home. Both were born the same year as me (1967). Not everybody gets severe symptoms, but not everybody who survives is the same person afterwards.
acknowledging that this is two months later.....I just read this sentence in your response:
" Not everybody gets severe symptoms, but not everybody who survives is the same person afterwards."
it is so eloquent.
re: lymph nodes, mine were big for a long time (post-menopausal overweight female) and I am not convinced they are back to normal yet.....and it was months.....hard to find any good info. in my opinion.....google searches yielded the same stuff over and over about the mammogram alerts....
at any rate......I have just read your more recent post about pain and went back to see some of your previous posts.....you are a warrior for even writing......getting verklempt....
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