Hello everyone, and good Saturday to all!! I'm writing hoping to get some information and enlightenment given the confusing world we are living in. I'm not looking to start any arguments about getting vaxxed or not getting vaxxed. I haven't been able to get good "real life" information from my doctor since she has not had a lot of her patients get Covid. Does anyone have information on getting Covid while on Ibrance and an AI and who has not gotten the jab? On the other side of the coin, anyone with information on Ibrance and an AI who got Covid with the jab? There are a lot of stories, and it's hard to tell in real life experience how people have fared with this MBC treatment with regard to Covid. I have lived "quarantined" now for 2 years and 2 months. I go no where, I see no one, I am alone all of the time. I receive groceries and deliveries for all of my needs, so I have not stepped inside a store, or dentist office, anywhere.....for over two years. I see my daughters and their families for the holidays for limited time, outside with masks on, and distanced. I have not hugged my children or my grand children in over two years. The only place I have gone to is to see my doctor every 28 days for blood work, doctor visit and Xgeva shot. I go in with an N95 mask, gloved, goggled, drive home and aseptically take off my clothes in the garage and rush to shower and wash my hair as soon as I get home. My doctor has the blood work and shot done in a private office and I'm always first person, first Monday and leave within 15 minutes of walking into the building. I'm lonely, and I'm sad and I'm getting to the point that I'm wondering if living this way is worth staying alive on this treatment. My dogs are one of this biggest reasons I go on like this. Thanks for letting me vent, and I'm hoping to get some good information to help me live a little less scared and get a little more "life" into my life.
Covid, vaccinated and not vaccinated - SHARE Metastatic ...
Covid, vaccinated and not vaccinated
Hello, I can see from your info we are about the same age and have similar mets too…. I can give you some perspective from the point of being 3x vaxed. My first two were AZ and the 3rd was Pfizer. I’ve had no big reaction to any of the shots, the first one gave me a bit of a headache and aches in joint for one day afterwards…but no fever. Other times just localised soreness at vax site for a day or two.I still managed to catch Covid back in February. Luckily the strain then was milder with less threatening symptoms. I had extremely light effects, less than a cold….to the point it actually took about four days of getting various tests to even get a clear positive, as the viral load was so low. I had to quarantine then for 10 days and as I could not collect the next dose of Ibrance or go to have my implant of Zoladex and infusion of Zometa until I was negative and out of quarantine…it meant I missed some treatment time,(although this was fine and caused no issues at all at the next scan the results were all good).
I’ve had friends who weren’t vaxed who also caught Covid around the same time as me (so probably the same strain as Omikron was dominant in Cyprus then) and they had heavier symptoms. One person I know was hospitalised for 2 weeks but recovered fine.
Recently my husband caught it and I went and had my antibodies checked to see how at risk I was and whether he should go and stay at his mums…but I was 99.8% covered having had the 3x shots and also natural immunity from having had it just a few months prior. I did not catch it again that time.
I personally believe that I have more options having had the vaccines. My country has a safe pass system and this way I can go to places without having to expose my self to having constant tests at government testing sites surrounded by possibly sick people in order to get the pass that I need to even get into my clinic.
My son has had a negative experience from having the jab however. Unfortunately he was one of the unlucky guys to experience myocarditis after his 2nd shot in July last year. As a healthy 18 yr old he was 10 days in intensive as his reaction was acute and he is still having to take a heart medication now.
I would still recommend vaccination in general. In my sons case now he has been told that he can’t have any further Covid vaccines due to his reactions …and we’re taking our doctors advice.
Hope this info helps you in some way to make up your mind. Sorry it’s so long.
Take care, best wishes.
Zoe x
Hi there! Thank you so much for the information, I really appreciate it! It's so hard to navigate the situation. I hope that your son completely recovers from his reaction to the vaccine. My daughter had a similar reaction, she is 32, and took the vaccine in order to be able to work in the hospital (she is a registered nurse). She ended up in the hospital for 3 days the day after the second Pfizer vaccine. She is o.k., and does not need to take medication, but now, cannot take any boosters. That gave me huge pause about getting vaccinated. I have enough health issues without adding any to the bill. So, I live alone, see no one, go no where and live in fear...... Perhaps the Novavax vaccine they are about to give the o.k. to here in the US can give me some relief and protection. Thank you again for all of the information you shared, take care!!
Gee I am so sorry to hear about your son. That must have been very scary at the time! I do feel for the majority of us that the vaccines have helped us tremendously but that is very unfortunate your son had that response to it. I hope he continues to improve
Thank you, he is okay….I totally agree and I’m still very much pro vax. Unfortunately my son fitted that specific group more vulnerable to myocarditis reactions…being male, under 20. But since he was about to go and do his national service time, where Covid was rife we decided it better for him to go in vaccinated.Best wishes Zoe x
Hello Fiercefighter13,I had Covid and I recovered well from it. Praise God! I am not taking the Vax. I honestly dont think they know how to treat covid. When I had it, it was like the flu. I dont stay home I get out and live. Living in fear will make one sicker and brings on added stress. Get out and live life to the fullest. I think the diagnosis that we have had to deal with has brought on enough stress in our daily lives. So I wouldnt worry about covid. God has numbered each of our days and He surely doesnt want us to live in fear. He wants us to live in abundant life! Carry on friend and LIVE!
Excellent comment!🙌🤙😊
I can't begin to tell you how very much I appreciate your reply!! Thank you!! To actually hear that you had Covid (which I'm so sorry that you had to go through it!), but that you are o.k. on the other side of it and that you are not vaxxed, well, your words are a light after a long dark tunnel!! Perhaps it is time for me to give life some space again and not be so fearful!! Thank you again!!
Absolutely friend! God has got you! Live life to the fullest!
😊❤
Hi there. I understand that every now and again we just have to vent frustration and worry. I really feel for you in these circumstances. I was diagnosed last August with stage 2 breast cancer and have been on Ibrance and Letrezole since October. I have tried to not let it and Covid disrupt my life too much although we do have to be careful. I go out regularly but because the cancer has infected a lymph node in my lung I am unable to wear a mask. I have been advised by my oncologist to regularly do a lateral flow test for Covid. Would a chat with your doctor about whether a lessening of the restrictions you have to your life help. A little more freedom I’m sure will mean a great deal.
Hi there, yes, any more freedom would mean such a great deal to me! My doctor is not the one insisting on my being locked down. It's pretty much been self imposed. I don't trust the vaccines, so I'm afraid to go out not just for myself but also because I don't want to infect anyone else should I come down with Covid. I very much want to know how most people on Ibrance who are not vaccinated have fared if they have gotten Covid. Unfortunately, I had two close friends that died of it, one was from one of the first groups of people who came down with it in February of 2020, and the other was a healthy young man who died of a heart attack from Covid in June of 2020. On the other hand, I have 3 people close to me that died from cardiovascular events from the vaccine.....So it left me with many thoughts as to how someone on Ibrance would manage it? I just need to find a happy middle ground and find my life again. Thank you so much for your thoughts, take good care!
I think I would go crazy if I didn’t go or do anything in two years. I was on Xgeva but had to stop taking it because it messed up my jawbone and had a titanium bar put in to replace jawbone. That was a one year recovery. It was horrible. But so far I have had no problems with the titanium bar. I have always gotten together with my family, we all put on masks so we can see each other. After one year of not seeing anyone, I had to see my grandchildren. I also wanted to see my children. So I said, go for it. If I got Covid from it, then I would just be sick. I did not care either way.
It's been hell to say the least! I do see my daughters, and their husbands and my grands, but it's always outside, and distanced and never for very long.....we live in a place where it rains all the time and even with an outdoor covered patio, it gets hard and it's just not the same as having them in my home, or being able to hug them. There's been so much pressure about the vaccines, and honestly, I don't know what is true and what is not, so I haven't gone anywhere or been near anyone in too long. Your advice is well received, thank you!! I have much to think about and decide on!!
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." -- 2 Timothy 1:7
"The same power that brought Jesus from the grave, lives in us. "
Believe in Him, and praise His Holy name.
We can't live in faith and fear. We have to choose. Please don't choose fear.
LIVE your life.
xoxo
Amen, and thank you!
God bless you! ♥
When our family first started getting together, I wore a mask and would eat in another room. Later, I would see the younger ones and I had to have hugs. So I would put on 3 masks and hug and wash my hands. After Mother’s Day in 2021, they surprised me and we had it outside. The next time we waited until the middle of June and celebrated Father’s Day and all the birthdays in June. After that, I told my Onocologist, who is a friend of my son, that we were having a family get together up in the mountains and we decided to be brave and give it to God and let him take care of it. We had no problems and the Onocologist said we must have gotten used to each other’s germs. Since then, we go without masks but, if someone should happen to drop by unexpectedly, I will go in another room. I am still careful if I go in the grocery store or somewhere like that. I watch my church on TV. Don’t just lock yourself in and be a recluse. You must get out and walk, get fresh air, talk to people on the street but keep your distance away from them. Just practice common sense and ease out a little each day. You will fill so much better. Open your Bible and read God’s word and listen to Him. Put your hand out and reach for Him. It is amazing how the mind works. Get out with your dogs and have fun. I will be praying for you. ❤️
Thank you for sharing your experiences! I do see my daughters and their families outdoors and distanced. Unfortunately winter does not want to give up her grip where I live making going outdoors almost impossible due to unrelenting rain. I do pray a lot, maybe I’m just hoping for too much wanting life back the way it was before Covid. It’s very difficult to navigate this disease and it’s treatment fallout amid the world right now. I suppose though that is indeed why praying and faith are so helpful. Take care, and thank you again for your response.
Hello,
I’m so sorry to hear that you had such a horrible ordeal with Xgeva! My oncologist wants me to start taking it, but I have read about too many MBC patients with jaw problems and femur fractures after taking or stopping the Xgeva injections. There must be more natural ways to build bone strength and prevent osteoporosis!
Hope you are doing well!
I also was on xgeva since my breast cancer is also in my spine. I was on it for about three months before I decided that I did not want to be on it in case I had some kind of work needed for my teeth. I had been told by my onco that I could not get any dental work done. So I choose to stop taking it with her blessing. I did not want the stress of having dental pain and then not being able to get work done unless I waited an amount of time.
I have not broken any bones so I feel like I made the right decision for me. Like you, I also read of some women having jaw pain.
I am on Faslodex now and it seems to be working fine but the shots hurt so bad. The needle is large and the medicine is thick so it takes a minute or so to get it in. It is really crazy because I can tell the nurse that it is hurting and she backs off and it will not hurt at all. Sometimes she gives it and I can hardly feel it. She does heat it before she gives it to me.
I would never advise anyone to take Xgeva. Ever, never, ever. I think it should be taken off the market. I had to pay for all of the dental expenses and I did not have $17K to shell out at one time. I used two credit cards and got it paid off without duns. I was blessed by that.
I have had rwo faslodex shots 5 times and the nurse uses a smaller needle after she warms the injections in her hand for a few minutes and it thins down so they don't have too use so much pressure injecting it. So far there has been no problem. The nurse said it has to be refrigerated and starts out thick so it is hard for then to administer.
Hello,
I had the omicron variant and recovered within 5 days. I am taking the Ibrance & Letrozole protocol and haven’t been vaccinated against covid. I had symptoms like sore throat, cough, body ache, tiredness and lost of taste. I had to wait a week for my neutrophils to recover before I could carry on with my treatment. Oh yes, taking Ivermectin from day 1 of being infected with covid must have helped my speedy recovery! I also don’t trust the experimental vaccines, but don’t let it hold me back. I go out and still work as a teacher (with a medical exemption). Life is too short to live your life in fear. God bless!
Thank you!! It looks like I have some life to look forward to. I have an RX for Hydroxychloroquine as a “just in case” but I have been feeling inclined to ask for Ivermectin. I really appreciate your response and info!! Take care, and thank you again!!
I had to do a little research first before responding bc I remember reading about that. I think the former man, DT, had advised this but it is NOT a recommendation for Covid. Do you doctor actually suggest you use it?
"Can hydroxychloroquine help treat COVID-19?
Current research suggests that hydroxychloroquine is not safe or effective for treating patients with COVID-19 (as of October 8, 2020). Early in the pandemic, patients may have received hydroxychloroquine under “Emergency Use Authorization,” but it did not reduce morbidity or mortality. "
Hydroxy and Ivermectin are controversial to say the least. They have not been proven effective or safe at treating Covid. Abetter option if you get Covid is the Paxlovid antiviral pills made by Pfizer and given emergency-use authorization by the FDA. They reduce the risk of hospitalization and death by 89%. They are available by prescription to high-risk people including immunocompromised, and you have to start taking them within 5 days of the onset of Covid symptoms.Another option you might want to explore since you’re in the US is the Evusheld shot, also FDA-approved for emergency use with immunocompromised people. It’s an antiretroviral that contains Covid antibodies, and can help improve your resiliency to Covid whether you are vaxxed or unvaxxed.
I’ll just say I’m on Ibrance, vaxxed and double-boosted with Moderna and have never felt the slightest side effect from any of my vaccine shots.
I've had four vaccinations, my oncologist and doctor said I should. They have all been in development for many years as Sara has been around for ages. I appreciate how the whole scientific community went all out working 24/7 to give us this chance of protection. I was a bit poorly with the first vaccine only. I had them in my week off ibrance. My MBC nurse said some have been ok getting Covid but I'm not sure about unvaccinated patients. It's a huge risk. And I had lung problems when first vaccinated, so if I'd had a bad case of Covid would not have had some treatments. Also it would probably mean coming of ibrance and I don't want to mess with my treatment. I now lead a pretty normal life with holiday plans and getting out and about but taking precautions, medical mask and keeping away from crowds and enclosed places where possible. I need to get out for my mental health and I'm not letting MBC win. I'll do everything to help myself. Good luck with your decisions. X
I have had 4 vaccine doses to date whilst on Ibrance. No side effects at all. Don't know of anyone who has had side effects other than a headache for a day or slight soreness at the vaccination site. I still mask up in crowded public spaces although recently spent a weekend maskless with 8 friends at a country house for someone's big birthday. Not had Covid to date. The UK has a special protocol for the immunocompromised to get a rapid PCR test and the appropriate antivirals quickly. I know 2 people who have experienced that process and said it stopped Covid completely in its tracks. I have followed the science and had no problems.
Dear Fiercefighter13,I have had three vaccinations. I caught covid in March this year. It coincided with the week off Ibrance. I called my oncology team and the doctor recommended that I wait until I recovered from covid before resuming Ibrance, which I did. I was very fortunate that my symptoms were mild. I also had some dental work done at that time. Then I started taking all the meds again.
While I was ill I took lots of Vitamin C, sage tea, honey and lemon and raw garlic rubbed on toast as advised by my medical herbalist. (These are all standard home remedies in the UK for ordinary colds and 'flu).
I had the vaccinations and have gone out and about as normal, wearing a mask at the supermarket or on public transport etc. My WBC count is generally borderline so I am only on 75 mg of Ibrance. However it is my belief that getting outside and mixing with people, getting exercise in nature are all essential to my good health and for my immune system, so I have never protected myself more than was required by law during the lockdowns. And even then, I went outside for a walk every day.
Last autumn, my oncologist okayed a foreign holiday of two weeks, which went really well. And I am just about to travel for a month now.
My philosophy is to live life to the full! Any one of us could die suddenly from an accident, so why waste the life we have staying at home?
Every time I go out, see friends and family, and spend time outdoors I feel MUCH better.
I grew up at a time before infants were routinely vaccinated against measles and chicken pox so I (and my four siblings) all experienced those chilhood diseases. I still have the pox marks as proof. (Despite all the television ads, I haven't ended up with shingles so far.)
I do have a round scar from the smallpox vaccination that was routinely given in schools during the 1950's. Polio was considered such a scary disease for children in those days that the polio vaccine was considered divinely inspired. When it was finally available in Canadian schools, no one I knew objected to receiving it.
This is my background which strongly predisposed me to take the Covid vaccines as soon as I could. I've now had both boosters as well as the original two shots. It never occured to me to ask my oncologist whether I should. Neither my husband nor I reacted much to all four Covid vaccinations. We still wear a mask in all public places, and maintain social distancing. When we and friends visit each other, we use Rapid Covid tests to ensure that we are not inadvertantly bringing viruses with us.
All these precautions allowed us to plan a 14-day European river cruise for the end of this month. The cruise company demands double vaccinations as a minimum. They have pointed out that the regulations of the countries we will be visiting may require the booster shots even though they do not. The cruise company has booked our flights, but we will certainly take as many precautions as we can on the airlines.
We MBC patients do need to live our lives as fully as we can. We don't have time or energy to waste on diseases other than the one we have. To me that simply means that I do all I can to protect myself from others with less to lose.
Hugs (from a distance),
Cindy
By the way, my adult son, who lives with me, has chosen not to be vaccinated. He's has covid twice--at the beginning of the pandemic, and at the same time that I had it in March. He is adamant that he is more afraid of possible vaccine side effects than covid. His illness was strong but not life-threatening, thankfully! He had a really strong immune response and his body fought the virus well.
It’s so sad to read that you are just existing and not living. I’ve been like that for 2 years and have now decided to mix or what else is all this treatment for if you don’t live and you suffer so much fear.Where I live (independent living and 57 flats) there are a lot of vaxed older people in their 80 s and 90’s and with a variety of underlying health problems, one with cancer and 10 people got covid last month and were fine, hardly ill at all, just a cough, and I was really surprised. I was told to remember that the newer strain of covid is much milder even though more contagious but I was still nervous.For us the risks are greater but I’ve now decided after discussing on this site to pretty well go where I want except for really crowded places.
I’ve had 4 jabs and getting a 5th in June.
I’ll mask up though as much as possible and just keep sanitising my hands. I have a mini sanitiser clipped to the strap of my handbag and will do my hands after touching anything. I feel liberated and healthier already and that can only be good to fight cancer. I know there’s a small risk but I’m willing to take it as my name is written in His book and He knows the day anyway.
All the best, Sue xx
I am so sorry that you have been so sheltered since Covid began. I had 3 full doses of Moderna and still got Covid in January, but I also had a very mild case. I ran a slight fever for about a day and a half and had a sore throat, mild cough and felt congested. I quarantined for the required amount of time and my husband never got it, which was good. My doctor recommended I take an extra week off of the Ibrance which I did. The congestion lasted a couple of weeks after but I had no other side effects. I am getting a booster dose tonight. I have gone on with my life. I mask up when I go into public restrooms or in crowds. My husband does all of the grocery shopping and other things I need I order online. I don't think Covid will ever go away, but I am hopeful we will learn to live with it and be able to enjoy our lives. I will pray that you can get some information from your doctor and find a way to get outside and to see family and friends safely so you are not so alone. Sending hugs.
I had Covid in March 2020 before one could get tested easily. Antibodies test confirmed that I had it in May 2020. My son who works with me, we then had an office in NY had it too. My husband who was with us both did not.
I am double vaxed...sick each time for two days. No third jab...monitor my antibodies; still high.
I was sick for two weeks in Mar 2020, but still worked from home every day and did three on-air hourlong interviews remotely.
My younger son who does not live home got Omicron over New Year's. Only had cold like symptoms and a fever.
My husband came home from a conf with it in April. He has had worse colds. Was only lounging around for three days, two of which were Masters weekend. He played 18 holes of golf after quarantining for 5 days.. three rounds...walked each.
My son and I were with him. Never relapsed.
Honestly I would say go enjoy yourself. Life is short. And I truly believe Omicron and all variants is nowhere as bad as March 2020 version.
Also I can tell you at least 20 people who were in Mar 2020 round and none of us are in numbers as testing then required you could not breathe. Insane. And people self testing at home now are not reporting...thus all 4 people in my family are in no numbers.
It all makes me insane. I only mask at Sloan for treatments and when visiting my MIL in rehab.
I have been vaxxed and boosted once and had Covid. Thankfully it was pretty mild and I have fully recovered. I have been seeing family and rarely wear a mask when out and about unless there are lots of people. I also am around my grandchildren who always seem to have runny noses. I am mindful of the risks but don't want to waste whatever time I have missing out. I think we all need to evaluate our tolerance for risk and do what is within our comfort zone.
I know. This whole covid situation is scary!
Hello - I got the delta version of Covid last October. I have the two doses of the vaccine. For my MBC, I'm on Ibrance and Letrozole. My symptoms were mild, but out of precaution I was given the monoclonal antibodies within 5 days of symptom onset. My neutrophils did dip quite a bit (to 430); however, I just stayed off of the Ibrance for a few extra days until my counts recovered. As far as how I live my day-to-day life, I do tend to avoid the large indoor gatherings (I don't enjoy that sort of thing much anyway :-)), but otherwise live as normal.
I am triple vaxxed. It never crossed my mind not to be. I truly feel that there were so many conspiracy theories and misguided information that kept people from getting the vaccine, and this cost more lives and more time in lockdown. I don't mean this as political, just stating my personal opinion.
I did get COVID a month ago. I am still not sure if I had asymptomatic COVID with allergies--I felt like I had allergies, tested negative, then a week later tested positive. My Onc did not stop my Xeloda as he felt my immune system is robust enough. He said I did not need the monoclonal antibodies. I isolated for 10 days then went back to my regularly scheduled life. I felt better sooner, and only isolated that long out of respect to other people,
I believe getting vaccinated is also a form of respect to others.
My understanding is once fully vaccinated, the chance of getting serious COVID--even with MBC is very, very low. I don't want to limit my life any more than I have to. I travel, I go out to eat, I socialize... I don't wear a mask except to church, and that is because my church requires it.
I did wear a mask right up until my local authorities said it was OK not to. Again out of respect to others.
So many people are shouting on social media that we should not trust the government or people in authority. This may be true about some things, but not about COVID. Unfortunately what this has wrought is a sub culture of false information and paranoia.
As cancer patients, we (mostly) question when someone touts a miracle cure... or claims that chemo is going to kill us, not the disease etc. Yet some of us have bought into COVID myths...
While modern medicine and big Pharma is not perfect, it has made a difference and extended many lives. Ibrance and related drugs are a game changer for many, for example... I believe it's the same with COVID. Except that instead of cancer that has been studied for years, this was a novel strain of a virus so the messy process of fully understanding it played out in public.
I think it is impressive that so many good minds were able to come together and quickly develop vaccines, treatment protocols, recommendations for public health etc.
I had two Vaccinations, before I caught the Delta variant last fall. I was the last in the house hold to catch it. I live with my daughters family which includes 2 teenagers. I was very sick although not hospitalized for 2 weeks. I was not given my ibrance for a whole cycle so that was 5 weeks of worrying. There was a very small change in one tumour but nothing since being back on. I got my booster asap, and when omicron went through this year others caught it but I didn’t. I too worry about catching COVID again when I go out, but try to reduce the risk by masking in large groups when shopping, hand sanitizer, and choose outdoor activities to socialize.
You are FULL of Fear, way more dangerous than cancer. Please go out and have a life, walk your dogs, DO NOT wear a mask! BREATHE 🌷Enjoy & be grateful.
Thank you! I appreciate your wise words! I do walk my dog whenever it’s not raining. I live up in the mountains, no sidewalks or neighbors to speak of so it’s easy to go and walk. My fear is just not knowing what is really happening. Vaccines don’t stop the spread or catching of Covid. I have 2 friends that died of Covid and 3 that died of cardiovascular issues from the vaccine. I suppose I should just start getting out with precautions, and get on with life since Covid is not going away! Thank you for being kind and supportive! This is such a wonderful group of people, and wonderful site!!
Hi there— I lived for 18 months as you describe—- quarantined and not much family contact. One year ago I got the first vax and a month later the second, with only minor aches the day I got the shots.
Last summer a dear family member was Ill in another part of the country. I thought it was safer to drive out…wearing my mask at all times. On my way back home a week later I got the worst respiratory infection if my life. No Covid tests to be found., so don’t know if I had Covid for sure, but I think it was.
Im on Ibrance,125 mg and didn’t stop taking it for vaccines( it was my off week!) or when ill.
I got third Vax in November.
I was exposed to Covid again over Christmas and had a brief 2 day mild “under the weather” episode.
My sisters are anti-vax and we’re upset that I got vaccinated. I finally explained to them that after consultation with my Oncologist I decided to do it. One sis said…. “ we’ll if it’s my time to go it’s my time to go” Which I agreed was true— but already with MBC dx I wanted to do everything I thought possible to extend my life! I’m trying to cram as much life as possible into the time I have.
This is my experience…. Wishing you peace in your decisions going forward. ❤️ Cindi
Thank you for sharing your experience, and thoughts regarding the Covid vaccine. It’s a tough situation, cancer treatment during a pandemic. I’m weighing my options and giving tremendous weight to the experiences from all of the responses I’ve received. This is such a wonderful site filled with wonderful people! This site has saved my sanity more than once. Thank you so much, you have given me good information and much to ponder! Take care!
I have been stage iv for over five+ years now. It is in my lungs, spine and as of three months ago, my liver. I got all the vaccinations, and my onco agreed.
I live alone. When it was at its height, I wore a mask. I still went food shopping and had friends come visit me but we sat outside on a bench with our masks on.
My building in Brooklyn, NY required (when it was at its height) that anyone in the building had to wear masks in common areas, laundry room, mail room, hallways, etc.
Since it has lowered considerably, we no longer have to wear masks in our building. In NY we still have to use them on public transportation.
So now, I no longer wear a mask, except where required, like the cancer center. The majority of the stores need me no longer require masks.
I have been out to eat, taken walks, sat and talked with friends who have not been vaccinated. I am doing fine.
I understand your fear, but what is the point unless you can enjoy what is left of our lives. I have had three friends die, NOT from Covid. But here I am with stage iv, and they were perfectly healthy, and three of my friends passed from aneurism and one from a massive heart attack.
I think you should try and enjoy life as best as you can now. I think COVID, like the flu, is here to stay. We will probably have to get vaccinated once a year or maybe twice. I hope you are able to overcome your fear of Covid bc you are not living in the present.
I wish you the best.
I don't really understand this question. I mean, vaxxed or not vaxxed, cancer or no cancer, there is NO saying how anyone's body will respond to covid compared to anybody else. There are very elderly people who had covid without getting sick, there are young healthy people who have died from it. The evidence does show that many more people without being vaxxed are the majority of who died.
I've had 4 shots of Moderne without any issues (and no covid), as has my healthy husband, and my young adult son has had 3 shots and just recently caught covid but has only mild cold symptoms.
I have 2 completely healthy and fit friends in their 50's who got covid (one at the start of the pandemic and one between shots #1 and #2) and they were both very sick (one needed oxygen) and both now have long covid. Another friend's ice-hockey-playing husband in his 40's got it really bad, no hospitalization needed but developed Parkinson-like symptoms after it.
So I do think care needs to be taken with a good mask but I feel like the gloves and goggles is over-kill. You could safely do a lot more activities than you are currently doing and still remain safe. The question in my mind is, how do many millions of vaccinated people around he world not prove the overall safety of the vaccinations that do reduce severity of covid disease? We follow our doctors advice for treatment of our cancers, but not for covid?
I understand your questions regarding my post. I knew two people who died from Covid, one was elderly with co-morbidity factors, and one was young, very fit and healthy. On the other hand, I know three healthy people who died within one week of the second MRNA shot of cardiovascular complications whose doctors have attributed to the vaccines. My own daughter, 32 and fit athlete was hospitalized for 3 days, 48 hours after the second shot for myocarditis. Gloves and goggles? I do have a degree in microbiology and mucous membranes, eyes nose and mouth are a pathway of entry for the virus. Gloves are to remind me not to touch my face until my hands are properly washed. Unfortunately a degree in micro does not a doctor make. I’m trying to find real world experience so I can make a better decision on how I might choose to proceed. My overkill stop gaps are not singularly about fear of contracting the virus, but fear of spreading it. Comparatively speaking, and I do agree with you, every person handles the virus differently. It’s not as straight forward or predictable as most or even almost all other viruses experienced up until Covid. Maybe my trying to get real people reliable experiences does not make sense to you, but for me, I’m finding it helpful looking at a cohort like the one I am in. I was not looking to debate vaccine safety and I apologize if that is how I came across. I have looked at the safety data, but as I said, my intention is not to debate that. I wish you the best, and I’m thankful for your sharing your viewpoints.
Dear Fierce fighter, I do empathise with your dilemma, as you have had so much emotional loss and bereavement!
I would just like to share with you about my mother. She was quite a gal. She studied bacteriology back when women didn't go to university in the early 1930s. She wanted to study medicine, but her studies ended with a BSc because she caught polio. She survived, despite serious damage to her leg. She went on to live an amazing life, worked as a scientist, raised 5 kids, got a Masters degree in her late 50s and travelled widely on her own.
I am sharing her story with you because despite her knowledge of bacteria and her experience with polio she taught me to build a healthy immune system through diet and basic handwashing (soap and water, not modern sanitizer).
What's more, she taught me to Just Do It, to trust my immune response and live life to the full. She loved fermented food like natural sauerkraut, yoghurt and blue cheese. I believe she even talked to the penicillium bugs in the cheese--she always liked to observe the different mould or yeasts that she came across in daily life. For her, they were fascinating and part of the world she loved.
I hope her story will be of help to you in embracing life again in all its glory.
Hugs from England xxx
Thank you for sharing part of your mother’s interesting and wonderful life! Your mom must have been a fascinating, strong and lovely person! I very much would love to find the strength to live such a well lived life!! Take care, and thank you for your encouraging words!
You go for it! ❤️😊🌿
And I apologize if I came across a bit strongly in my response. I did not think you were looking for a debate but there are so many people out there with a view to covid that has been so twisted by false and misleading facts , I was merely intending to try to state some facts (also based on my knowledge from people I know and in my local community ). Nothing is cut and dried, as you well know with your background. I’m very sorry to hear of your losses and your daughter’s experience. I wonder if those negative responses were with the use of the same vaccine make. I’m in the US, not sure if you are here too or somewhere else. One thing I can report is that regardless of vax status the number of cases in this part of the US have leapt up exponentially in the past 2 weeks with the drop of mask mandates, and I read about the latest variants of omicron being yet more contagious still so the pandemic sadly is not going away in a hurry!
I have a friend in her 60’s who got it just recently. She has been super careful all this time (she has had cancer but not MBC)but she recently went out locally 3 times to quiet places for a drink/quick bite - and that’s how she got it. She took antiviral meds so she’s ok but it still isn’t mild either
I very much agree with you, regarding the misinformation surrounding Covid. It is an exceptionally brutal virus, Omicron or not. The lifting of mask mandates has made this disease quantifiable more dangerous for anyone with co-morbidities, given that fully vaccinated people can come down with the disease (with different degrees of severity) and actually transmit the disease as well. This translates to millions of Americans at high risk because of the mask mandates dropping. Such a ridiculous point many have made, being that their inconvenience is a higher priority than the life of another (with the understandable exception of those who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons of course). My daughter who was affected, and friends who passed all had the Pfizer vaccine. I’m hopeful that Novavax which is in line for approval soon will be, as it is in line with traditional vaccines and does not stimulate reproduction of the spike protein. Covaxin is also among the traditional vaccination lines. My hope is that when these vaccines or one of them is approved and made available (hopefully), many more people will feel comfortable receiving a vaccine, creating a bigger safety net for the public. I’m on the West coast here in the US and we are seeing big upticks as well, it’s all very disappointing, but also not surprising. Thank you for your input! Take good care!
Hey I understand how you feel. I too have put my life on hold to some degree: MBC taking Ibrance and Faslodex. I wear a mask and social distance etc. but sometimes I don’t feel if it is enough. So I stay in quite a bit which is not “normal” for me. I just decided to take a flight to see my family after over 2 years. I will admit I am anxious. However i will follow CDC rules because it is important. My mom is 86 so her health and safety is equally important. Listen… my advice to you is to continue to protect yourself if that makes you feel comfortable. Take small steps to get outside so you can enjoy your life. Hate to say it… COVID has forced us all into a new normal. We are all trying to figure it out. Be strong!
You are so right! I hope you have a lovely, safe and wonderful trip with your family. I think being able to spend time with loved ones is the most important aspect of what many of us are missing and very much need. Take good care and safe travels!
I had the vaccine & booster. Since my diagnosis of stage 4 MBC 4/19, I have not been sick at all. I live normally. Don’t wear masks except when required to do so at doctor’s & hospital appointments. Enjoying life, trusting God. Not living in fear. I pray for peace, comfort & liberty for you!
Get out of your self-imposed isolation. It will bring life to you! Enjoy your family again. Count your blessings!
🙏❤️🙏
Thank you for your kind thoughts and words! ❤️
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