Cancer and COVID-19: Do we need to shield after chemotherapy?

@Lavender1 Hello Lavender1, thank you for starting this discussion. This is a great question to ask, I'm sure there are other members in a similar positions feeling the same way. If you haven't seen it yet, we published an article that brought together some of the common questions cancer patients have regarding COVID-19 and tried to answer them with some helpful resources and advice. Feel free to give it a read, I think it may be of some help to you:

Coronavirus and Cancer: What do you need to know?

Hello members, I hope you're doing well and don't mind that I've tagged you. Do you have any advice for Lavender1? Have you heard any particular advice or recommendations from your GP or specialists? 

@suep1974‍ @Michelle1969‍ @Anniejac‍ @Sharadella‍ @Christinarose‍ @Catherine170655‍ @Gaynor‍ @Lindacork‍ 

Take care,

Courtney

I was wondering about this too. I’m due to finish chemo at the end of June and I’m wondering how long it will take to build my immune system back up. I want to go back to work but I will be responding to 999 calls for the ambulance service so many patients are likely to be covid 19 positive. I’ve got an appointment in 3 weeks with oncologist so I will pick his brains x

@Lavender1 @Michelle1969  Hello all! I'm keeping up my chemo sessions, I feel lucky to be able to continue. I'm not sure I could deal with the stress of not having them and thinking my cancer is spreading. When I go to hospital it's a mask mask mask + a lot of gel, I am very careful! I still want life to go on but we all have to be patient, that's the condition.

I hope you're all doing well and this isolation isn't too difficult! I continue to garden, it's my passion and I listen to a lot of music! 

@Michelle1969‍ Do let us know how your appointment goes and what the oncologist says, I'm rather curious!

Xx

hi i finished chemo 5 months ago am now on olaparib and I have been told to shield this is my 10th week my oncologist advised this hope everyone is well 

Hi all,

 I ended up with a telephone appointment with my oncologist last week. It was rather disappointing though. He clearly hadn’t read my notes & asked me if I was going to have radiotherapy & hormone treatment after chemo, neither of which are relevant to my triple neg cancer. 
When I asked about how long my immune system would take to get back to normal he said I should be ok to go back to work in 4-8 weeks depending on how I feel. He didn’t ask what my job was though. When I told him I work for the Ambulance Service & would be treating Covid positive patients he said to err on the side of caution so 8 weeks post chemo. I’m definitely not going back to work so soon as all the nurses were saying that the advice was ridiculous. I’ve requested a face to face appointment in 2 weeks with him so hopefully can get some clarity.

Still very thankful that my chemotherapy has continued & one more round to go in 3 weeks 🤞 now starting to panic as my chemo bubble will be over and the oncologist said there are no scans or tests until next annual mammogram 😬 it’s so scary.

Take care everyone & stay safe ♥️

Michelle x

I’m not shielding now as 3 months past chemo so my immune system is ok now it’s great being back home x 

I finished my chemotherapy 5 months ago, still I had a 2and shielding letter which runs until 16th August. CT scan due in July then tel consultation from Oncologist end of July. Can't do anything but abide with the government letter.