Cancer Australia FAQs COVID-19 Vaccine
Hello everyone, Cancer Australia has compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) based on input from cancer clinicians and people affected by cancer, including via a roundtable meeting of key cancer control stakeholders, consultation with consumer representatives and organisations, and queries and concerns raised in social media. The answers to these FAQs are based on information and evidence currently available in Australia and internationally. Please use the following link to access the FAQs as this webpage will be updated as new information becomes available. Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 vaccines for people affected by cancer | Cancer Australia Here is the Coronacast episode featuring Prof Dorothy Keefe, CEO Cancer Australia with Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor. Australian Government Department of Health Priority groups for COVID-19 Vaccination Program: Phase 1b If you have further questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and your individual situation, please speak with your treating specialist.
TERRIFIED of Treatment
I’m not sure I can convey in writing how terrified I am I’m not sure there is a word to describe it the worry I feel is debilitating, I already suffer from anxiety and this is just exasperating it, i was diagnosed about a month ago and have had a Lumpectomy with good results margins were clear and lymph nodes were clear, my cancer is triple negative and they are still wanting me to have chemo and radiation. The plan is 12 weekly doses of chemo then about 15-20 treatments of radiation along with Herceptin every 3 weeks for a year. I am supposed to go to Hospital on Tuesday for Echocardiogram, Port Insertion and my first chemo. Everday for the last two weeks I have woken up at 6am in what I think is a panic attack I have tingles all over my body and shaking and I don’t want to get out of bed I’m at a point where I don’t think I’m going to be able to get myself to the hospital on Tuesday, and on top of all this I live in Melbourne so we have COVID to deal with which means no one can come to hospital with me I have to do this alone. I am terrified of having the port put in and the thought of it being in my body for so long is terrifying to me I am also completely terrified of the chemo and all the worry it will cause me between treatments having to monitor temperature etc etc will be so stressful for me. I have tried conveying this to various people (Doctors, Family, Psycologist) and all they say is you have to do this and take one step at a time, I feel like no one is really grasping how terrified I am and no one is helping me with the mental side of this, am I the only one that feels this way please HELP me as I don’t think I can mentally survive this and am seriously considering not going on Tuesday.
Astra Zeneca vaccine while on Herceptin Perjeta
I just had the Astra Zeneca jab and the dr told me it wouldn’t work as well for me because I’m on immunotherapy (Herceptin Perjeta). I was surprised by this but went ahead anyway. Has anyone else on this been told that? Or that you had to get it at a certain time in the 3 weekly cycle?
Covid vaccine
Hi all! just wondering if anyone has had discussion with their treatment team yet about covid vaccines? I vaguely remember an article somewhere ages ago (can’t remember where though) about the fact cancer patients on certain drugs may not be able to have it. I’ve got metastatic BC and am on kisqali and AIs in case that made a difference. I’m only relatively young (42) but severe asthmatic so Covid would not be ideal for me! Not that it’s ideal for anyone!!! Cheers!
I've Had A Week
In the last seven days: - I had a Covid19 test - negative - I finally got the guts up to raise body image and sex with a doctor during a telehealth consult with a doctor at a menopause after cancer clinic. Not a single doctor has ever raised this subect with me. - I had a check up with my breast surgeon. Back again in six months instead of 12 because the right foob is lumpy. - My son came to me in a panic about finding a lump on his testicles, I took him to the doctor, and then back again for the ultrasound results. A cyst, thankfully not a tumour. When I was telling him to calm down he said "I know Mum but it's US". - My youngest got her first period. And all this during Stage 4 Lockdown. I am exhausted. I feel like I'm always on high alert. Stop the world, I want to get off... K xox
Help with decision on breast reconstruction
Hi, Last February in Townsville I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was not in the nodes, but had spread from the ducts. Because of COVid19 I had three lots of surgery in March. The first was a lumpectomy, then the surgeon realised there was still some remaining in the breast so she went in a week later, removed the residue and transferred some tissue from the side of the breast to the front of the breast for aesthetic reasons. That surgery was not successful afterwards as the blood wasn't flowing as it should, so she went back in a week later to see if she could fix it, but did explain that the breast would have to be removed if she could not fix the problem. She took the breast. No chemo or radiation, and an excellent recovery. But no matter what I do I am always lopsided, and my new puppy has already put two holes in my prosthetic breast so I decided to look into a reconstruction next year. I went to see the reconstruction surgeon in Brisbane yesterday. He explained both options to me. I do not like the idea of implants, but the other option involves 7 or 8 hours of surgery. My concern is not that, but rather that I have a fat stomach, so I am wondering if he does the surgery that takes some skin and tissue from my lower abdomen, will I end up with a flat abdomen but still have the fat on my upper abdomen, (under my breasts). I am 65 years old in a couple of weeks. Hoping to speak to some-one who has had this surgery, so I can be clear in my mind that it will make me feel better not worse.
Looking for the positives
Being in the COVID capital of Victoria it has been difficult to find many positives for some months. These masks - blah - but today I found myself appreciating mine. ''What ?'' You may be asking. Well, Ballarat has snow - real snow which lays on the ground and banks up. The temperature dropped to zero but it felt like minus 5 degrees. The positives ? 1. The good old COVID mask kept my face warm and 2. The winter wonderland is beautiful. I have emailed my American penfriend of 50+ years with the photos and she is amazed as she never believed that sunny Australia ever got cold ! No doubt the TV news will be full of pictures of kids playing in the snow in many parts of Victoria and perhaps other States today as this cold front works its way across the landscape.
