COVID-19 Vaccine and Breast Cancer

Posted by mitch3194 @mitch3194, Dec 18, 2023

Does anyone know if the Covid-19 vaccine contributes to the progression of breast cancer?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

I very much doubt it, at least I can't imagine how the biology would work. However, I'm just a patient, and not any medical authority. I do know however from experience that treatment for breast cancer can make a person more vulnerable to infection, so vaccines are of particular help to cancer patients. Any oncologist I've encounter really wants breast cancer patients vaccinated--so I am up to date with everything. If this is a concern, do check in with your doctors.

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Hi @mitch3194, here is some information about COVID and the vaccine specifically for cancer patients from Mayo Clinic
- Specific questions and answers about COVID-19 for cancer patients https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/covid-19-faqs/cancer

Excerpt:
Q: I am a cancer patient. What should I do to protect myself from COVID-19?
A: Because cancer treatments weaken the body's immune system, cancer patients are among those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. To protect yourself from COVID-19, follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for people who need to take extra precautions.

Q: Is it safe for cancer patients and cancer survivors to receive the COVID-19 vaccine?
A: Mayo Clinic recommends cancer patients and cancer survivors get vaccinated as soon as possible. Patients should discuss any concerns they have about being vaccinated for COVID-19 with their health care provider.

I agree with @mir123 that you should check with your oncologist if you are concerned about your health status and vaccination.

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Thank you Colleen. My oncologist appt is Friday.

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There was a case study in the British Medical Journal showing tumor regression after receiving COVID-19 vaccination. Of course there needs to be much more research before this can be applied to the general public. But it is encouraging. The case study was reported by MD Anderson. Here’s the link:
https://jitc.bmj.com/content/10/3/e004371

Best luck at your oncologist appointment! Hope you find some good information!

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That is good news. Thank you! I will check it out.

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Yes. I had been hesitant to get the last COVID booster but this study pushed me past my indecision. I’d be curious if other vaccines like the Flu or pneumonia vaccine also do the same. But maybe it’s just the RNA type.
I do know that vaccines can cause lymph nodes to flare. It is recommended to wait 6 weeks before getting a mammogram or MRI. And always tell the radiologist about recent vaccine history.

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In a related research article:
B cell-deficient patients gain protective T cell immunity following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and infection, study finds

“B cell deficiency is a common condition that can result either from immunosuppressant drugs used to treat autoimmune disease or certain cancers—such as rituximab (RTX)—or from natural immune deficiency. These patients suffer from a weakened immune system that is less effective at combating both viral and bacterial diseases. As B cells are a key type of immune cell that produces antibodies, a deficiency results in a significant decrease in antibody count that can lead to severe disease or death upon infection with SARS-CoV-2.
Researchers at the Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT, and Harvard; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research; Monash University; Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have found that vaccination against or infection with SARS-CoV-2 produces a robust T cell response in B cell-deficient patients, providing reassuring evidence for the immunocompromised.”

Reported in Science, but easier to read the synopsis in the Medical Express article.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-12-cell-deficient-patients-gain-cell-immunity.html
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I have stage 4 breast cancer that has spread to my lungs. I’m not going to get my Covid shot. I believe that putting more stuff in the mix will just aggravate my neuropathy and decrease my immune system. Since it is a virus going in. Not going to take that chance.

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@triciaot

Yes. I had been hesitant to get the last COVID booster but this study pushed me past my indecision. I’d be curious if other vaccines like the Flu or pneumonia vaccine also do the same. But maybe it’s just the RNA type.
I do know that vaccines can cause lymph nodes to flare. It is recommended to wait 6 weeks before getting a mammogram or MRI. And always tell the radiologist about recent vaccine history.

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Good point about lymph nodes. I'm getting all my inoculations on the other side from the breast cancer--otherwise I think I'd worry a lot if there was swelling on the cancer side.

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@lauraboo

I have stage 4 breast cancer that has spread to my lungs. I’m not going to get my Covid shot. I believe that putting more stuff in the mix will just aggravate my neuropathy and decrease my immune system. Since it is a virus going in. Not going to take that chance.

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What did your doctor or pharmacist recommend?

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