1. < Cancer: Managing Symptoms
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Are you getting cancer treatments during COVID-19?

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Mar 26, 2020

Are you getting cancer treatments at the moment? What about diagnostic tests, like blood tests, CT scans, mammography, PET scans etc? Is your surgery going ahead as planned or postponed?
I'd like to hear from you. What is like being in treatment during the COVID-19 crisis? How are you doing?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Cancer: Managing Symptoms Support Group.

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Apr 6, 2020
In reply to @huronshores "Diagnosed with ET. Numbers seem to be somewhat unstable. I feel fine except Hydroxyurea makes me..." + (show)
@huronshores

Diagnosed with ET. Numbers seem to be somewhat unstable. I feel fine except Hydroxyurea makes me a bit nauseous, so take it with food, which helps. See Hematologist usually every three months. Now a couple of weeks overdue as they do not want me to come to the hospital center, in nearby small city. We live in a rural area and our local lab is closed, along with some others, due to threat of Covid19. The Doctor wants me to get a blood test before he can issue new prescription. I have found a lab in small town nearby and have an appointment in a few days. They are doing tests only by appointment, one person allowed in at a time and they check before you enter re Covid 19 symptoms etc. I am 79 and my husband is also older, so we have been trying to do our part by social distancing and isolating etc. We have everything we need. I would certainly rather not be going to any lab or appointment right now but it seems that the blood test is necessary. The Hematologist phoned me the day I was to have been there for his appointment to check on me and he reiterated the need to go for the blood test. Be careful everyone to avoid the virus threat.

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@huronshores- Good morning. It must be extremely frustrating to have your doctor poo-poo a lot of what you ask him. Have you considered a second opinion? Does your doctor want to give you a new medicine or just a refill for the Hydroxyurea? I'm so glad to hear that you are following recent recommendations for protection against COVID-19. Make sure that you wear a mask and gloves. Most phlebotomists wear gloves, but I hope that yours has a mask on. If you have plenty of masks maybe bring one in case she doesn't?

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Apr 6, 2020
In reply to @richcolleen "I’ve had my infusion a week ago. Also brain MRI. These were done at the CDI..." + (show)
@richcolleen

I’ve had my infusion a week ago. Also brain MRI. These were done at the CDI and cancer center in St Cloud. My scans at the Mayo in Rochester were postpone from April till June. Ok with me. Rather be safe than sorry.

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@richcolleen- Hi. I bet that you're glad that those are done. Do you have the results yet?

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richcolleen | @richcolleen | Apr 6, 2020

Yes. One word which said reassuring .than my primary Dr called and said looked good.

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w5wiggi | @w5wiggi | Apr 6, 2020

My chemo was stopped about 8 months ago because of my lung function,or breathing was difficult , since working with a pulmonary doctor I have normal lung function again. I have a growing renal cancer tumor in my lung which came from removal of kidney was completely cover with renal cancer. I have cancel a knee replacement and have reservations about going back on chemo even though the tumor is still growing, I do ct scans every 3 months on the upper body.

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Apr 6, 2020

@w5wiggi- Good morning and welcome to Mayo Connect. You've really been through a lot! Side effects from treatments that are so bad that they have to be stopped are really the pits. I'm really glad that your lung function is once again good! Is your doctor thinking of trying another chemo treatment?

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w5wiggi | @w5wiggi | Apr 6, 2020

Yes, votrient, tablet which I have tried before and it slow it down a little. Be at this since 2013 Mayo removed the kidney and they including all have been wonderful in helping with this

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ruttgerbay | @ruttgerbay | Apr 6, 2020
In reply to @seaspray "Thank you Colleen for sending this! I just checked on my portal and they are still..." + (show)
@seaspray

Thank you Colleen for sending this! I just checked on my portal and they are still saying no masks unless you are sick! It is still worrisome that the 4 doctors and nurses I had contact with Monday & Tuesday for my brain radiation. did not wear masks. Tomorrow I go to an Orthopedic Podiatrist for an ongoing clogged sweat pore in my foot, and I will be wearing a mask. Thursdays I go back to Mayo for labs and then infusion and I plan on wearing a N90 the whole time.

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Don't believe everything you see on the internet...or portal. By all means, wear a mask whenever you leave your home. At Mayo Rochester, patients and caregivers alike are required to wear masks in treatment/exam rooms. Nurses and the entire staff wear masks all the time, even tho they have "self-tested" before coming to work and once during the day. I find that to be more accurate on the mask question than anything else. And good luck with the CART-T. My wife is in day 4 and so far, no side effects except extreme fatigue, which could be the result of nadar from chemo on days -5.-4 and -3.

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2 replies
Bob, Alumni Mentor | @grandpabob | Apr 6, 2020
In reply to @ruttgerbay "Don't believe everything you see on the internet...or portal. By all means, wear a mask whenever..." + (show)
@ruttgerbay

Don't believe everything you see on the internet...or portal. By all means, wear a mask whenever you leave your home. At Mayo Rochester, patients and caregivers alike are required to wear masks in treatment/exam rooms. Nurses and the entire staff wear masks all the time, even tho they have "self-tested" before coming to work and once during the day. I find that to be more accurate on the mask question than anything else. And good luck with the CART-T. My wife is in day 4 and so far, no side effects except extreme fatigue, which could be the result of nadar from chemo on days -5.-4 and -3.

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@ruttgerbay - So glad the hear your wife is doing so well.

How is your stay at GOL transplant house?

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1 reply
seaspray | @seaspray | Apr 6, 2020
In reply to @ruttgerbay "Don't believe everything you see on the internet...or portal. By all means, wear a mask whenever..." + (show)
@ruttgerbay

Don't believe everything you see on the internet...or portal. By all means, wear a mask whenever you leave your home. At Mayo Rochester, patients and caregivers alike are required to wear masks in treatment/exam rooms. Nurses and the entire staff wear masks all the time, even tho they have "self-tested" before coming to work and once during the day. I find that to be more accurate on the mask question than anything else. And good luck with the CART-T. My wife is in day 4 and so far, no side effects except extreme fatigue, which could be the result of nadar from chemo on days -5.-4 and -3.

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@ruttgerbay - That is great to hear Mayo Rochester requires the use of masks. Too bad Mayo Florida does not and actually asks you not to wear them unless you are sick. This knowledge is from being there 2 days (over 4 hours) with my brain radiation team. I am just praying I have not been exposed. And yes, I will be wearing a mask when I go for my labs and infusion on Thursday whether they like it or not.

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huronshores | @huronshores | Apr 6, 2020
In reply to @merpreb "@huronshores- Good morning. It must be extremely frustrating to have your doctor poo-poo a lot of..." + (show)
@merpreb

@huronshores- Good morning. It must be extremely frustrating to have your doctor poo-poo a lot of what you ask him. Have you considered a second opinion? Does your doctor want to give you a new medicine or just a refill for the Hydroxyurea? I'm so glad to hear that you are following recent recommendations for protection against COVID-19. Make sure that you wear a mask and gloves. Most phlebotomists wear gloves, but I hope that yours has a mask on. If you have plenty of masks maybe bring one in case she doesn't?

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Thanks .. especially with all that is going on around the world .. I am lucky - so have to continue this course for now. Take care.

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