Tropical travel after FOLFOX?

[Jannine]

Does anyone here have experience with tropical travel shortly after FOLFOX chemo? We're planning to go to Costa Rica about a month after my chemo ends. I'm going to take my vaccine booklet to my oncologist on Tuesday and see what she says, but I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with this.

We went to Tanzania 8 years ago and I got all appropriate vaccinations at the time (Typhoid, Polio, Yellow Fever, Hep B (both doses), Hep A (one dose). I haven't gotten a flu vaccine for this year because of the chemo. I should get the second Hep A immunization if it's safe for me to do so, but I think I should be good on vaccinations otherwise. The port is the only thing I can think of that might be a concern, other than that. Well, and I probably still need to be careful about the sun. And I may want to take malaria medication, but I know my insurance will cover the good stuff, fortunately.

Thanks for any thoughts on this.

[Achilles Torn]

I don’t know about other vaccines but you may find this interesting

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/28923497/

Dukoral use may be linked to a survival benefit for Colon cancer.

AT

[boxhill]

I had the flu vaccine in October during FOLFOX. They actually gave it to me at the cancer center. As long as it is the KILLED virus, it's fine. I'd go ahead and get it, if I were you.

My NP said that any vaccination with a killed virus should be okay, but I can't speak to what you need for Costa Rica.

Have a great trip!

[zephyr]

My niece got married in Costa Rica last year and my oncologist strongly advised me not to go because of the zika virus and my compromised immune system.

[Deb m]

Be sure to wear sunscreen. Our oncologist to us that folfox makes you super sensitive to sun.

[rp1954]

My wife uses IV vitamin C, larger scale vitamin D3 (+K2) and various antiviral and immune supplements to eliminate tropical and weird viral challenges. At least my wife, who takes lots more stuff, shrugs these things off, when the rest of us don't always shrug them off.

This includes a gardener working nearby, who was hospitalized for several weeks with a serious arbovirus.

[Jannine]

Whew. My oncologist said she had absolutely no concerns about a trip to Costa Rica a month after FOLFOX treatment ends. I've been lucky and have handled FOLFOX very well; I haven't had many side effects at all. My platelets are back up by 20k this week, which was a pleasant surprise. So I was able to get my 11th infusion on time yesterday. This colon cancer thing is the first time I've had anything wrong with me for a long time. Even when my husband brings home a head cold, I only catch it from him maybe 20% of the time. That's held true through chemo so far, fortunately; I haven't caught any of the stomach bugs or anything else that's been going around. I do usually get the flu shot, because I work at a college and the flu sucks.

I'll definitely use plenty of sunscreen and wear a big hat, and will be careful about food and cleanliness, etc. I'm taking vitamin D3 supplements, as well.

I won't be able to do any of the strenuous optional activities, I suspect; I do tire out easily if I go for a walk (but I also generally walk at about a 20-minute-mile speed; I'm sure if I slowed down I wouldn't get out of breath). I'll take it easy and do shorter hikes (which I'm sure will involve lots of pauses to take photos) and maybe some ziplining, rather than the "adrenaline rush" type stuff.

I'm going to take one last neulasta shot after my last infusion to help keep my white blood cells up for the trip, too.

Thanks for all the comments!

[rp1954]

On 8 years metronomic immunochemo, we never had my wife's platelets under 100 k, they have been floating around 150k for years now. We chose the PSK type of water extracted mushroom extract from Coriolus Versicolor, because of its demonstrable ability to raise WBC and platelets for us.

Basically at 3 grams PSK/day + 3g/PSP/day, we were able to boost WBC way up to 9 but only used 3 grams PSK or less long term and maintained WBC at 4 to 6. With 3 grams of PSK we were were able to boost platelets in the early years back around to 200s, started from less initial platelet count depression. Our immunochemo has less myelo- depression so you might look at PSK as a potential add on adjunct or in betweener.

[Jannine]

Wow, nice. I am not sure that it would be worth the investment for me at this point since I only have one more infusion to go, and HOPEFULLY this will hold me for a nice, long while. My platelets were at 104 last time, and are back up to 124 this week. I will make a note of your thoughts in case I end up on chemo again.

rp1954, I'm always so impressed by all the research that you do and the knowledge you have. I don't know if I could sort through all of that information and come up with a plan that makes sense, given my liberal arts background. I'm so grateful to have people with your knowledge on this forum, and that you share your thoughts and ideas with us. Thank you!