Hello,

You asked about chicken pox. There isn't an obvious medical reason for being more at risk if you have had routine surgery a few months ago. Some regular medications can lower the immune system, so if you are taking any new medicines, then check this out with your local pharmacist.

If you had chicken pox as a child, then you are fairly unlikely to get it again. As you get older, your risk of getting shingles does increase though. This is caused by a reactivation of the virus. You cannot catch shingles from someone who has chickenpox. So you might want to consider having the shingles vaccine anyway at your GP surgery, if you are over 65 years of age. Once someone's chickenpox scabs have crusted over and dried up, then the risk of infection to others is far less.

I hope this helps,

Best wishes,

Vanda

Cancer information nurse 

Hi Vanda - that's really helpful thanks. I will check with my pharmacist. Great advice and thanks for getting back to me quickly.

Thanks

Charles