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Should Waldentrom's Patients Get Flu Shots?

Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: Sep 5, 2023 | Replies (14)
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@loribmt

Hello @mike02041950 @barbdk @lesliemont. Because WM is a type of blood cancer where your bone marrow produces too many abnormal white blood cells, that puts you in a higher risk for infections and diseases. The white blood cells are key figures in the immune system so when they’re defective that leaves you immunocompromised. The best defense is to go on the offense and grab those all important vaccinations such as the annual flu shot and the latest Covid booster vaccination (that one hasn’t been released yet and is due later this fall).

Here are a couple of articles which help explain why it’s a good idea and why our blood cancers put us at a higher risk.
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https://www.cancer.net/blog/2023-08/should-people-with-cancer-and-cancer-survivors-get-flu-vaccine
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https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/whoshouldvax.htm

A little information from the Mayo website on WM:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/waldenstrom-macroglobulinemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20359967

Of course, it’s always a good idea to check with your oncologists to see if they recommend the vaccine for your personal care. Each of us is different but all of my doctors are on board with the added protection the shots offer.
@mike02041950 you wondered if a flu shot would skew your blood numbers. That would be a good question for your doctor.

Have you all received vaccinations in the past?

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Replies to "Hello @mike02041950 @barbdk @lesliemont. Because WM is a type of blood cancer where your bone marrow..."
mike02041950 | @mike02041950 | Sep 2, 2023

Thanks Lori.

Yes, I have received two shots and the booster a couple of years ago, but my IgM levels were much lower at that time. They started monitoring my IgM levels in 2018 when they recorded levels in the 300 range. At the time, they were simply monitoring the slow proliferation and calling it MGUS. Last year in 2022 I began experiencing fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath and weight loss, so they did a bone marrow biopsy and determined that I have WM.

I have to wonder if the covid shots and flu shots I had during that time turned my MGUS into WM, or caused my IgM levels to be sped up. My last blood draw done back in July revealed that my IgM levels have increased to 647.

I know my levels are still low relative to so many others, but I have to wonder if the vaccines have contributed to the IgM proliferation in my case. Hence my question about skewing my blood numbers.

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