How long should an AML patient shield?

[Rosey-Millie]

How long should shielding last with a person who has AML? My daughter should finish her main chemo (4) in mid June, she will have targeted therapy for 2 years. Does she have to be shielded until there is a complete vaccine, or for 5 years, or ?

[2003UK Champion]

Hi Rosey-Millie, good to hear from you, I think your question is best for your daughters medical team as they will know her complete medical history and family situation. I expect you are also wanting to know your situation with isolation status as well. I think the Covid-19 has just extra confused the whole situation. We are all here for you both and the Leukaemia Care Charity helpline is open Monday - Friday 9am until 5pm and they have a special evening service on a Thursday and Friday 7pm - 10pm. The number is freephone 08088 010 444. The main thing is that you both stay safe.

[KnitEatCrochetRepeat Patient Advocate]

Hi Rosey-Millie, I'm Charlotte from the Advocacy team at Leukaemia Care.

Your daughter should be shielding at the moment due to the COVID-19 pandemic (and it sounds like you are already doing this, as per the government guidelines: gov.uk/government/publicati....

The government advice is that the shielding period is in place for 12 weeks. This 12 week period is due to end in the middle of June, and we have not yet had information about whether this will be extended or not. We will share more information on this if and when we receive it.

As 2003UK says, please do get in touch with us if you have any concerns.

[snoopy101]

Rosey-Millie . I have AML and live in Spain. My wife is my carer. I have shielded since our Prime Minister went into lockdown on March 14th 2020. The oly times I have been out, has been to hospital for blood tests (3), for a consultation last Wednesday and now my Azacitidine injections. I wear a mask all the time when out, medical gloves and carry hand sanitiser.

My haematologist said last week, although I am doing good, except for low platelets, my wife and I must avoid shops etc as much as possible. We are lucky in our village with good neighbours who help us.

He did say, we are going to have asecond wave of this virus.

Shielding for us is second nature.

By the way, I was 1st diagnosed in January 2018 and am 75 (76 later this year). I just pace myself.

[Rosey-Millie]

I work in a hospital with many covid patients. My occupational health department have advised not to live at home with my daughter (it is a very small flat) so I am living apart. She has had covid, but we don’t know what being immune means or for how long. Covid 19 seems to hide. I have taken advice and will live apart for at least 6 months, probably much longer. If we had more room it would be different but I couldn’t not bump into her with a tiny bathroom/toilet/kitchen etc. We too are thinking of 18 months for successive waves, and without a successful vaccine things can will be hard. I hear vaccine trials (which appear positive) mean a vaccine should be available in about a year. I don’t know if that will be like a flu vaccine or something more permanent.

Originally, the government said everyone with blood cancer at any stage of the treatment was at danger of covid as it attacks the vascular system. The current guidance did not mention blood cancer, I don’t understand why?

[Stevenxx]

If she hasn’t finished her treatment of Chemo yet then she should continue to shield. Her immune system will be compromised for the time being. Should get a plan from her consultants