Hello Lou,

Thank you for posting a question. I am sorry to learn that you have secondary breast cancer.

You are right, it would be wise for you to stay away from the family party as your niece has chicken pox. In theory, people who have had chicken pox before, are probably immune to getting it again.  But there are cases in the medical literature of people getting it twice. So don’t take any chances.

As you know chemotherapy can cause temporary immunosuppression (reduce your ability to fight infection). If immunosuppressed people get chicken pox they run the risk of developing complications, such as pneumonia.

If you read the NHS guidelines about chicken pox, you will read that your niece is infectious until all the spots have dried out.  Also people do not need to have direct contact with the person to pick up the virus.

I can appreciate that  it may be disappointing for you to miss out on the party.

If you have any other questions do contact us again. If you would like to telephone our freephone number is 0808 800 4040. We are here from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9am to 5pm.

All the best,

Jean