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rose8
Regular
Joined: 12 Mar 2007
Posts: 15
Location: morayshire scotland
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 Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 6:19 pm Post subject: shingles and cancer |
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| hi have breast cancer stage 2 ,51 at diagnosis. hormone neg and her neg have had 6 lots of )FEC) chemo last treatment finished on 5th May radiotherapy starts end of May .MY question is my friend has chicken pox and i have been in contact with her should i phone and let my doctor know in case i should get shingles i am a bit worried now as i have just finished my chemo and this could really set me back, has this happened to anyone else ? Thanks again for all feedback i get on this site and god bless everyone who is going through this terrible thing |
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Vee Smith
Moderator
Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Posts: 648
Location: UK
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| Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 7:54 pm Post subject: Re: shingles and cancer |
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Oh dear, we have so much to worry about! I would let your chemo team know that you've been in contact and ask their advice, but of course you get shingles if you yourself had chickenpox as a child. The virus remains in the system until a suitable moment.
I have known people to develop it after/during chemo, but frankly, do try not to worry too much. |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3457
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 8:33 pm Post subject: Re: shingles and cancer |
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I agree with Vee. It is more likely that you could (not will) get chickenpox... unless you had chickenpox earlier in life.
The second issue for me is: "OK, you have been exposed to chickenpox... What can be done about it?" What I am saying is, what can the doctors do now other than to keep a watch for chickenpox to develop? Talk to your medical team as soon as possible... In fact, call the office tomorrow and tell the nurse what happened. They may want to put you on some kind of medication to help your immune system. It is probably not a life threatening situation, but the sooner your medical team can address it, the better off you will be. Let us know what you find out. Good luck.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/ |
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rlee
Site Admin
Joined: 15 Jan 2006
Posts: 245
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| Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 8:26 pm Post subject: Re: shingles and cancer |
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rose8,
People with cancer are at higher risk for shingle and especially those undergoing chemotherapy due to an altered immune system. What have your WBC counts been like since on chemo. You should avoid individuals with active chicken pox as this could pose a real problem for you if you have a disseminated infection. If you have any unusual skin symptoms, let your team know right away.
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RLee, MD
Any information provided is NOT intended to provide specific medical advice to users but rather to provide users with information to help them better understand their health condition and related care. All readers are strongly encouraged to consult with a qualified physician for answers to their personal medical questions. |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3457
Location: Tennessee
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rose8
Regular
Joined: 12 Mar 2007
Posts: 15
Location: morayshire scotland
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| Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 7:04 pm Post subject: Re: shingles and cancer |
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hi re shingles thankyou again for your replys your always appreciated input and your concern. My husband works abroad and is not home much during this treatment so im going it alone ,but have friends and family around but this site sure helps with questions im concerned about Knowing you are out there and can empathise with me, My oncology team said that there was not much we could do until i show symtoms which would include a rash and possible pain under my ribcage and maybe in my face its been two weeks now since my contact they said maybe three weeks or so I feel good at the moment long may it continue have finished chemo start radiotherapy in June god bless us all and keep us well
Rose 8 breast cancer grade 2 hormone neg on chemo( fec) 18 wks and radiotherapy 20 sessions soon to start |
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Muttsmom
Senior User
Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 631
Location: Northern AL
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 11:56 pm Post subject: Re: shingles and cancer |
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Hi,
I got shingles after I had 6 rounds of FEC and after I started radiation. I had a divorce going on at the same time, so my stress level was through the roof to say the least. I noticed a place on my back the day I saw my rads onco and he gave me medicine and they cleared up, never had a problem with them or from them again.
_________________
Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04 |
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