After FCR are we more vulnerable to CoVid 19?

[Mandy56]

Given that after FCR treatment we are more at risk of lung cancer, are we more susceptible to becoming very ill or dying if we catch Covid19? I worry because my lungs are so much more sensitive now. I finished FCR eighteen months ago and I start to cough if I am near an open fire. My lungs begin to ache if I light a scented candle, so I don’t do that any more.

As the CoVid 19 attacks the lungs, I worry that I, and others post FCR, are more likely to become very ill.

I suspect no-one really knows the answer, but I’d welcome your thoughts.

Mandy

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

The answer largely depends on your lymphocyte count and after 18 months that is probably reasonable. More particularly, it depends on having healthy B, and T lymphocytes that you need to fight the virus.

Neil

[Mandy56 in reply to AussieNeil]

Thanks Neil. Lymphocytes 0.9, so not back to normal yet. Not sure about the others. Worrying times for us.

[bennevisplace in reply to Mandy56]

Hmm, I'm just 2 months on from my 6th and final cycle of FCR, and 1 week ago my lymphocytes were also 0.9, neutrophils 1.7. The NHS wrote to me stating that I am "extremely vulnerable" to Covid 19 and need to be "shielded" for minimum 12 weeks. Shielding guidance means neither I nor my wife leave the house (other than separately and then only to exercise), we have separate bedrooms and bathrooms and stay apart as much as possible (we do dine together, but at a distance), we have shopping delivered, and we have no visitors. And although it's not in the guidance we both wear face masks when we're in the same room and we don't use delivered groceries for 48 hours in case C19 is on the packaging (people out there have handled it and the virus can survive that long on plastic surfaces, half the time on cardboard).

These measures might seem extreme but the guidance reflects what the medics mean by "extremely vulnerable". Sorry but based on your recent blood count it seems that you are in that category too.

[Mandy56 in reply to bennevisplace]

Thanks Bennivisplace,

I, too, have had the letter telling me I am extremely vulnerable. Like you, my husband and I are taking extreme measures of distancing. Watching TV at the moment in the same room, but 10 ft apart. Separate bedrooms and bathrooms. Avoiding using the kitchen at the same time. All a bit grim.

I just wondered if, because of FCR we are in a worse position because of what FCR has done to our lungs. As with so much with this virus, who knows ?

[bennevisplace in reply to Mandy56]

Hi Mandy, I think AussieNeil is right, it's primarily the damage to our lymphocytes that makes us so vulnerable to Covid 19, as they are all we have to fight viral infections of that kind (there are antivirals for certain others).

Sorry to read your lungs are giving you trouble. Of course that must add to your vulnerability.

I was lucky in only having one chest infection, seen off with penicillin before I started FCR, and nothing since. I also had shingles and later oral shingles before FCR, seen off and kept at bay with regular aciclovir. During treatment I had two presumed colds one of which from my wife, but the only obvious symptom was fever. I guess the immune system was just not capable of mounting a normal immune response complete with runny nose etc.

Well, here's to lymphocyte prosperity and staying out of harm's way.

[Smakwater]

Mandy56,

At minimum, use recommended clinical precaution and listen to your body.

JM

[Senecio]

Hello Mandy,

I had FCR 2.5 years ago. My feeling is that we are better off than we were during Watch and Wait. For a while I did not catch most infections - unlike during the years before treatment. I have had a few colds in the last year.

I would recommend that you avoid contact with people while the disease is widespread. That's what I'm doing. I will have the vaccine if and when it appears!

Good luck,

John