Corona virus

[Gmaoftriplets]

Has anyone talked to their oncologist about the Corona virus? I'm taking my normal precautions, wearing a mask in public and washing my hands. Just wondering how everyone is feeling about this.

[4thTimesTheCharm]

I am feeling much LESS vulnerable than my 70yo sister who has severe asthma and lives in Northern California. MBC notwithstanding, I am otherwise in good shape.

If you already have compromised lungs, or any of the factors that predispose you to pneumonia or influenza, then be very cautious. Be clean, stay home as much as possible, wear gloves in crowded places (especially medical facilities!), wash and keep hands off your face.

The fear promulgated by over-focused coverage of this single virus without providing perspective data on similar health dangers helps no one. Stay alert, stay smart, but don’t be fearful. Do counsel with medics as you feel necessary.

[Gmaoftriplets in reply to 4thTimesTheCharm]

Thank you, you are so right. I also have type 1 diabetes and I work in a medical facility, in ophthalmology dept, so at least we dont have sick people coming in. One more month and then I'm retired and I can stay in the house!!

[Hidden in reply to Gmaoftriplets]

You don't want to retire just to stay in the house! Our mayor in NY (I think we now have 11 or so confirmed cases, primarily people close to the first attorney that was diagnosed. Even his neighbor who drove him to the hospital got it.)

They are not going to have a vaccine in April. Our Mayor told us to expect that NY will be dealing with this for months. If a person is in good shape and gets it, they should (as long as they go to a doctor) get through it relatively well. It is those who have respiratory issues (I have lungs mets) and those with compromised immune systems (I would say all of us) that need to be more diligent. I do not plan on staying inside and I dont drive, so I have to take public transportation. I will just be careful and carry my Purell with me and not put my hands on my face. I live alone so that is a plus but I am sorry, Spring is coming and I have been stuck in this apt. for months so I am going outside.

Just need to be more careful. When you think of the amount of people that live in NY vs. the no. of people confirmed with the virus , it is still relatively small.

If they suspect people may have it, they are asking them to quarantine themselves at home for 14 days.

[Pbsoup]

I asked a friend who is a board certified infectious disease specialist, her husband who is a pathologist and my oncologist. All said “wash your hands” and left it at that.

My husband runs a public institution and he is remaining open and allowing employees to travel barring compelling advice and data not to.

I live in Northern California

My sense is we need to be careful but not panic or over react. There are so many bugs out there and myriad potential dangers. Not to down play the risk, but it has become a politicized media frenzy.

With that. I’m off to vote in the primary

[Gmaoftriplets in reply to Pbsoup]

Thank you I really appreciate your reply!

[Hidden in reply to Pbsoup]

You are totally right. People are spreading fear and that is what will destroy us the panic. A store had people buying loads of Lysol wipes and bounty and all kinds of things and buying as much as they can. He said they are panicking when there really is not reason to. Sure, we have to be be careful. But nobody has to go into the basement shelter underground yet. The 6 or 7 people that got it in NY all were infected by the same attorney who got it first.

[KMBL_]

I had my appointment yesterday, and I had to fill out a questionnaire. I thought it was a great idea. It asked about if I was having any symptoms of cold or fever.

[Hidden in reply to KMBL_]

My cancer center has a form. I am told by the ladies at the desk that my onco is the only one that makes her patients fill them out. Even before this virus, it was ridiculous. Have I been to the hospital within 30 days, if so for what, have I had any surgery. It's annoying. What is my pain level and activity level.

I know even though I leave it on her chair and she picks it up and puts it to the side I know she NEVER really looks at it bc once I put I never leave my bed and can't bend down....she never said a word to me about it even during the next visit. Proof she doesn't even look at it.

[KMBL_ in reply to Hidden]

The form at my doctor’s office had maybe three questions tops.

[Kiera49]

I am washing my hands a lot and bought hand sanitizer for when I'm out. I am keeping away from sickly people, going to doctors and hospital as little as I can. I agree the government are making people panic, I've even had an email off ebay saying any sellers who up the price of hand sanitizer, masks, gloves etc their posts will be taken off.

[Hidden in reply to Kiera49]

I think the govt. is trying to squash the fear that people have about this. They need to report it as they learn things. They said yesterday that masks don't make much of a difference but that constantly washing your hands and carrying hand sanitizers with you is the best bet. I even read now that there is a shortage of hand sanitizers with people buying them up. Luckily I had bought a ten pack when first put on Ibrance, but rarely used it so now I have 10 small bottles.

Yesterday on news in NY they reported the first case in NY. A 50 year old man who had NEVER traveled outside the country has it. They transferred him to New York Presbyterian Hospital. They closed his son's school and the temple that he went to. Also advising people that were recently at a funeral that he was at to quarantine themselves.

So they are puzzled how he was infected (and apparently quite ill) since he had not traveled except to FL a few weeks before. The did not mention his name but I am sure many know.

So they are trying to report the facts bc people read something and then start spreading rumors. And of course there are always people that can take a bad situation and try to make money off it so good that they made this new rule that anybody trying to make a profit by selling hand sanitizers at a much higher price will be taken off. Absolutely disgusting.

[MyMiracle13 in reply to Hidden]

Hello. I live in Asia and wish to make a comment on the 50 year old man who caught the COVID-19 but never traveled. You mentioned that he went to a temple. Could it be that he caught it from someone at the temple? The mega cluster in South Korea started at a religious sect in Daegu. The cases in Iran also started in the holy city of Qom. The first few cases in Singapore also started at the Grace Assembly Church of God. This prompted the Catholic diocese in Singapore to stop Masses until the situation improves. Just maybe someone from the temple traveled to a country where there are many cases. This is just my observation and personal opinion. I am Catholic and still attend our church services but I can’t help but be scared of being in large crowds. I always have my sanitizer with me and bring masks along just in case.

[Hidden in reply to MyMiracle13]

I dont think so. He also went to work, he also attended a funeral, his son also goes to school. So because he was diagnosed, they shut down the temple, they closed his son's school and they advised people that were near him at the funeral to see if they feel like they are getting the flu and if so, get checked out. They are just be pro-careful. So far nobody else at the temple has been diagnosed.

Even now at Catholic Churches, where you say may the peace of God be with you and you usually shake the person's hand next to you in a sign of peace bc of this, they are taking that out for now.

So far in NY, the only people that seem to be affected with it are actually people that either lived with the man, worked with him and his neighbor who drove him to the hospital.

It is more deadly for the elderly or people with respiratory issues and compromised immune systems. Our bodies are less able to fight it but if a person is in fairly good health and feels like they are getting sick, go get tested.

They are keeping a large group of CUNY students who were abroad on some ship to be quarantined for 14 days. They also I heard dropped kits on the boat to have them take some test.

It you feel like you are getting a cold, go get checked out but if one is in good health, that have less worry that they will die from this.

People need not to panic so much. I mean, of course, be careful but I have mets to the lungs and am using public transportation (I do not drive) and am going food shopping and will wash my hands with Purell and more importantly, NOT, put my hands to my face.

Consider 11 or 10 in NY have tested positive which is most of the people that were close to the first attorney diagnosed with it. Considering the amount of people that live and work in NY, it is a very small amount.

[Hidden in reply to Kiera49]

They announced today in NY they are going to have private undercover people going into large and small stores to make sure they are not price gorging items that people are panicked and are buying. Good, I hope they catch them and fine them to the fullest and put a sign on the stores so people know.

It's sad but there are always there types of humans out there who will try to make money off the worst case scenarios. I can't even imagine doing something like that. I have about six bottles but if I knew somebody in my building didn't have any and was worried, I would give them one of mine.

Situations like this bring out the best in people (several countries all aiding China to try and find a vaccine...funny how well the world can work together when all is threatened) and then those other people who will do anything to make a buck even at the health and life of someone else. It has been like this since the beginning of time and will be like this until the end of time.

[Rhwright12]

I see about 200 kids a week. I’m in OH. So far no outbreaks here. Just praying it stays way. We end our kids ministry here May 1. So I’m hoping to be virus free till then...We’ll most likely follow suite with the schools in the area if it comes to that. 😀

[morty87]

I am a teacher and I feel as though my oncologist is more panicked than I am. MBC since October 2017, on Letrozole, Ibrance and Zometa infusions, and appear to be doing well. I constantly wash my hands and disinfect my room when I know a student has been sick. I do not want to live in a fearful society. I have common sense to take care of my surroundings and control what I can.

[Gmaoftriplets in reply to morty87]

Thank you, I agree 100 %!

[Hidden in reply to morty87]

I agree 100% also. I went to cancer center last week. It is odd because where I go in Brooklyn, one of Brooklyn's award winning cancer center it is located in Brooklyn, Chinatown. It's like you are entering another world. Every sign is in Chinese, every store, and even in their supermarket are in Chinese. I went into a pharmacy and only one person out of six workers even spoke English.

Usually, the streets are packed with Chinese people, the traffic is horrible bc of all the delivery trucks that double park.

Nobody that works at the Cancer Center were wearing masks.

I noted when I walked in how empty the streets were and a few hours later when I came out which is about rush hour traffic 5 pm, the streets were empty and hardly any cars and no delivery trucks. I felt like I was in an episode of the Twilight Zone. Car service still picked me up. Life goes on.

I am taking the bus tomorrow to go food shopping. Just bring more purell and not put my hands onto my face. I still have to live.

[CincinnatiExperience]

I feel that we will all end up with this virus, but then we all get colds as well, right? I had treatment on Friday, with symptom,s of a cold and nobody thought anything of it.

WASH YOUR HANDS!

Anne

[Hidden in reply to CincinnatiExperience]

That seems to be the item they are trying to get across. Better than the masks, they are saying the best we can do is constantly wash our hands and use a tissue or something if you need to touch something that alot of people may touch. Like a handle on a bus, etc.

Hopefully, I had heard that they may have a vaccine already for this, but it won't be coming out until April. So you have to give them credit for already being able to hopefully figure out a vaccine so quickly.

They say it seems like the flu with a few variations which just makes it that much harder to figure out. There is already a shortage of hand sanitizers.

[Hidden]

What a scary situation! I hope the man and his son soon recover and that no one else around them has been infected with the virus. I think we all need to just exercise good judgement and try to be sensible by making sure we wash our hands and listen to any advice we may be given from the government and healthcare officials.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I have to go to my cancer center today which is in Brooklyn's version of Chinatown. Every sign is in Chinese, even in the supermarket everything is written in Chinese. When I go there, even in the summer and way before this virus thing, the Chinese walk around with masks. Practically all of them. I guess they were so used to doing so while living in China because of the pollution they do it anyway here in US.

My friend told me not to order Chinese food which is ridiculous because it is American Chinese food. But people panic and start rumors, now to stay away from Chinese people. So the govt. I think is doing its best not to start a panic but to state facts bc now that they have somebody here in NY that has it and has NOT traveled outside the country, they are baffled as to how he caught it.

They state masks really are useless and the important thing is to constantly wash your hands and to use a tissue or something to hold onto poles in the train, etc. The NY MTA is washing all the trains with disinfect but that to me is kind of useless bc thousands of people use those trains every day.

They even said in NY they are running out of hand sanitizers. I mean we do the best we can and that is it. They need to find out how this man got it when he never traveled outside the country. I am sure people are terrified that worked with this man, went to the same temple or were at his house. We can only do as much as we can to protect ourselves. I am not worrying about this. The cancer is enough for me right now.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I am not overly worried about this either. But I am just keeping an eye on what is going on and will see how things develop.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Yep, just like me. They did find their first case in NY. A 50 year old man who has NOT traveled out of the country and who lives in NY and works in midtown as an attorney. They closed his son's school, temple and are advising people that were around him at a funeral a weeks ago to be diligent in seeing how they are feeling.

His son (I heard today on the news) has also testified positive. I have enough dealing with this cancer so I live alone, I have to go to Cancer Center today which is in Brooklyn's Little Chinatown. You pass a certain block and you feel like you are in China. All the signs are in Chinese, all the people, you go into their supermarket and everything is in Chinese. I even went to their pharmacy once and with 7 workers only one spoke English.

I am more worried about my Ct scan of my lumbar spine. Could you take a look (I posted about it called 1.31.2020 CT scan. Something is off. I had called her bc I did not want to wait until my appt. with her on 2/20/2020. She said it was stable (it was specifically just for my lumbar spine bc of the pain).

When I went for my appt. last week with her it was very odd. I waited an hour (in the room where they bring you. That never happened before). I then saw her pass quickly and it seemed she was being reprimanded and finally when she came into the room, all she basically said was I will go and tell them to give you the infusions quickly and put you in front of line. I basically did not have an appt. with her at all. She looked very stressed and upset.

Now, I just happened to see a copy of my CT scan report of my lumbar spine. Could you tell me that what the radiologist doctor wrote seems like the scan came back as "stable". I am a bit agitated about this. And especially the fact that I did not really get to have my appt. with her. I am wondering if is because of what was stated (and she probably never even read it) on my CT scan report. I just need somebody who knows a bit more than me (which is everybody on this board) to see if that means something. If you have the time.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I'll take a look at your post and let you know what I think.

[diamags]

Every now in then they will mention on the news how many people have died of the regular, yearly flu, and the number is WAY higher than the Corona Virus flu. Yet, so many who will buy masks (won't do much for them) and not get a flu vaccine. I think a common sense approach to this is best.

[Wildcat1]

I spoke with my oncologist as to what I should be doing she said wash your hands and don’t touch your face. Nothing much more to do than that.

[Gmaoftriplets in reply to Wildcat1]

That's the same thing my oncologist told me. Ex