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Lung cancer and Covid

Bluette
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Hi

I was diagnosed with Stage 3A lung cancer just before Christmas.  I had two lobes of my right lung removed in early January and the surgeon managed to remove all of the tumour.  He then referred me to an Oncologist who offered me a course of chemotherapy in case there were any remaining cancer cells which were too small to be seen on a scan.  The Oncologist told me that chemotherapy (with my type of cancer) would improve my 5 year survival chance by only 5-10 percent.  Given what I saw as the poor odds I declined this treatment.  I accept that this is a very personal decision and realise that perhaps most people would be grateful for the opportunity to improve their chance of survival by whatever percentage.  

I had my first six monthly chest scan yesterday and should find out in two weeks whether or not I am still in remission.  Like a lot of people in this position I am feeling a bit nervous.  I am trying to be stoical, but feel a bit anxious and tearful as well.  The reason why I am posting is a bit unusual.  I have a friend who is an anti-vaxxer and has declined to have the Covid vaccine.  She lives 200 miles away in London and we haven't seen each other since my diagnosis.  I have had both doses of the vaccine and I am thinking about staying with another friend next month in London who has been vaccinated.  The unvaccinated friend wants to see me, but I feel uncomfortable.  I guess that I fear catching Covid even though I have been vaccinated.  I would be ok seeing her outside, but the weather can change so quickly in this country that we might have to meet indoors if it starts raining.  I am considering telling her politely that while I recognise her right to not be vaccinated, I just feel a bit unsafe in her company at the moment because of my condition. 

I just wondered if anyone else has faced this dilemma.

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    Hi Bluette

    I understand your concerns about unvaccinated people.  I have the same concerns.  Hence whilst on chemo I have opted out of the air cadet work that I do.  This is because there is one unvaccinated member of staff plus all the youngsters who might be carriers with out symptoms. My opting out is understood by the CO and we will review the situation at the end of August when I hope chemo will be finished and I am probably going to be needed for a weekend session.  I might say that I can only do outside activities for that just to stay safe.  I think it is a good idea for anti-vaxxers to understand that there are people who will not socialise with them.  I feel the same about smokers, I will not socialise with those who smoke because the smoke makes me cough very badly, as I found out many years ago with my mother and my sister.

    Best of luck with your visits.

    jane

  • Offline in reply to JGi

    Hi Jane

    Thanks very much for your reply.  It's nice to know that somebody shares my concerns.  It seems like you have thought carefully about your situation and your plan sounds very reasonable.  I know that there may be times when I am in an enclosed area, like a train carriage, with someone who hasn't had both doses of the vaccine.  I accept that as being something beyond my control.  With my friend I feel differently, as that it something which I do have some say in.  I have just managed to encourage another friend to have his second jab yesterday by letting him know that the local community centre was offering jabs.  He was a little hesitant but when I left a pause in the conversation he seemed to read my mind and said, 'Yes I will go along now, to protect people who are vulnerable'. My goodness, some people need a nudge!  

    Good luck with your chemo.

    Regards, Bluette

  • Offline in reply to Bluette

    Hi Bluette, my husband has stage 4 lung cancer diagnosed 2017 with 7% success rate with chemotherapy but he took all treatments offered and will never be rid of it. However he is now one year into immunotherapy and every three weeks has to sit with 15 other patients receiving treatment, we don't know if they are vaxxed or not but he is so we try not to worry about it and see friends and family when we can. Losing friends is not easy and it is their choice to have it or not, perhaps wear a mask if you meet up inside, my sister in law had a kidney transplant so that's what we do so we can still see each other. Such difficult decisions to make but you must do what is best for you.  Good luck, Carol 

  • Offline in reply to Dor06

    Hi Carol

    Thanks for your reply.  This forum is so useful for sharing experiences and perspectives. Hearing about your family's experience has broadened my perspective.  I guess I wish that I could control my environment and how my friends behave!  But as all of us here probably know, the only thing in life we can really control is how we behave.  

    You make a good point about your husband being in a room with 15 other patients to receive his treatment on a regular basis.  We just don't know the vaccination status of other people and must try to accept that as something beyond our control.  I will try to concentrate on the positive fact that I am vaccinated.  It was also useful to hear your suggestion of wearing a mask if I do end up meeting my friend indoors.  

    Finally, I wish you and your husband the best of luck with his continuing treatment. It is very heartening to hear how well you and your family are managing the various health challenges. 

    Kind regards, Bluette

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