Covid vaccination may increase lifespan for stage 4 cancer patients

Hi,
I recently joined this group and start a 12 session chemotherapy plan this coming Monday. On Wednesday November 12 in the Guardian online newsletter I read about a credible study wherein stage 4 cancer patients recently vaccinated with Moderna or Pfizer Covid vaccinations prior to starting chemotherapy increased their lifespans by 75%, or over the time span considered lived a median of 37.3 months
compared to 20.6 for those who didn't get the vaccine.
Maybe of interest here? I went and got the vaccine yesterday but on rereading the article see it looked at immunotherapy specifically and getting the shot within 100 days of starting it. I may not get the immunotherapy so soon, since they're starting me on Folfox for my stage 4 esophageal cancer.
Oops, but maybe it'll help all the same.
Good luck all,
Marcia

How soon does immunotherapy usually start once they begin the 6 months of chemotherapy? I will ask my MD today.
But is 6 months of Folfox once every two weeks with.48 hour long infusions normal?
Marcia

@maraca Do you have a link to that article so we can read it and see everything it has to say, please?
Ginger

Guardian article:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/may/31/immunotherapy-trial-helps-cancer-patients-with-tumours-live-40-longer
The Lancet, trial report
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)00860-8/abstract
Please check with your doctor prior to getting the vaccine. There may be other medical reasons that this may not be beneficial for your particular health issues. Timing may also have effects.

@gingerw
Hi Ginger,
Someone already posted the link just above. I tried but was warned off from posting links.

@maraca
Actually, Ginger, the above link is not the one about Covid vaccination. Do a web search for November 12 2025 Guardian and key words like Covid and cancer in order to find it online

@maraca, I believe this is article you're referring to:
- Covid vaccines may increase the lifespan of cancer patients – this could be a game changer https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/12/covid-mrna-vaccines-cancer-patients-prolong-life

I have stage 4 esophageal cancer and started immunotherapy the same day I started chemo.

Nathan

@pcbeach Hi Nathan. Esophageal cancer can be a rough journey and I’m sorry you’re having to deal with the challenges this can bring. A good friend of mine developed this over a decade ago. You’d never know it…he’s fully recovered and back to jogging daily. But it wasn’t easy at the time, for sure.
By the way, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. There are several members who have experience with esophageal cancer. It can be so comforting to know be able to connect with others who know what you’re going through.
I’ve posted a link below to a discussion started by @puprluvr several years ago. She’s still active in the forum, along with fellow Mayo Mentor, @dsh33782 @dave640 and others (or their loved ones). Here’s the link for you:

Esophageal Cancer: Anyone else?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/esophageal-cancer-2/
How long ago were you diagnosed? You mentioned chemo and immunotherapy. How have you been doing with the treatments?

Hi Nathan and all,
You're giving me some hope that this cancer may not do me in pronto.
Thanks everyone,
Marcia