COVID-19 test required by Cancer Center

[Cured]

My Oncologist’s nurse called to see if I could go to a special tented test site to get swabbed before my Monday treatment. So Saturday at 7 AM I got swabbed while seated in my car. I felt I was healthy and have been isolated at home, and felt sure I didn’t currently have it. Today I got the results online.
Component Your Value Standard Range
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) PCR Source NASOPHARYNGEAL SWAB
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) PCR NOT DETECTED
. My family is relieved. With cancer in my lungs it could be bad if I got the virus.

I had seen a report from Wuhan of worse things happening to those with cancer. I imagine the hospital/clinic wants to be safe.
Further reports from the US and France are less concerning; referring to underlying conditions of those getting Covid-19 with cancer.

[beach sunrise]

Did it feel like they poked your brain? Its so good you are neg. Cancer center I go to suggests it every time I have an appt but I say I don't want to be in the mix of all those people and potentially come away with covid19. Who knows, they may start requiring it also.

[Cured]

The nurse swabbing my nostril was obviously very experienced. It barely irritated me. She asked if it made my eyes kind-of tear-up. Yes; but that was it.
It took more time to que-up than to be tested. The result was NEGATIVE for the virus, and was on My Chart late the next day.

THANK God I am healthy other than having cancer. It allows me to endure the (hopefully curative) Chemo.
Today is day 4 of my second round of Folfiri this go around. The night of day one is the tough one.
The sun just came out, so I need to go for a walk.

[claudine]

Yes to walks in the sun!!
DH also got tested, the day before his surgery - testing had become mandatory for all surgeries that very day. The nurse complimented him on being so calm and relaxed; he said it wasn't that bad, but apparently other folks report that they feel like someone is trying to reach the top of their skull through their brain with the swab!

[ChiMama]

Another yes for walks in the sun! I'm so grateful for my dog who gets me outdoors and keeps me sane!

I'm having a biopsy on a lung nodule Monday and the hospital requires a COVID test within 3 days beforehand. Scheduled for Saturday.

Interestingly, when trying to schedule my scan at the end of March, the imaging center wouldn't schedule me without a test since I had traveled overseas. They said they would not do imaging on me even *after* the 14 day isolation period without a test. But I couldn't get a test since I had no symptoms! Three weeks later, the criteria was changed - the overseas thing became moot since it was all over the US by then, and they did the scan without a test.

Strange times!

[Cured]

This week they infused me without scheduling another Covid test. Thy have another swab test scheduled for late June - before I get CT Scan and see the Onc.
Today is day 3 and my pump was disconnected this morning. So the most uncomfortable days are are done for this cycle.

My blood counts were down & was barely allowed to do this cycle. So I will probably skip doing in 2 weeks.
White and Red counts are down; most concerning the Dr is Neutrophils; especially Absolute Neutrophil Count only 1.0 k
I need for my body to recover.

If anybody has advice on building Neutrophils naturally; please chime in.
I’m walking more and eating more vegetables while keeping in ketosis.

[NHMike]

Tests have better availability in my state and I plan to get the Antibody test though I'd like to get the Roche test and I don't know if any providers have it yet. I haven't been sick since December and January, family came down with something that was mild with really oddball symptoms and I'd like to know if that was COVID or just a cold.

[Cured]

Mike, It would appear that lots of people have had the SARS-2 & were able to recover.

For $80 a local hospital’s Work Comp clinic offered to do the antibody test.
For our business I want to check our staff for COVID-19. They want $200/person.
The “free” tests funded by the government are available in a few places: if you say you have been in contact with a sick person; or if you have the high fever/ hard to breathe.

I was also told that a local Dr has setup a drive through for $20 to test for antibodies. I still can’t get my Drs. to prescribe the antibody test for me; which would be covered by Medicare.

I am isolating myself since right now my blood counts are low, due to Chemo. I’m preparing to skip a round to allow my body to rebuild its defenses.
In other words: I fear the impact of the Chemo more than the cancer at this point.
I have read that about 20% of deaths of cancer patients are not actually due to the cancer.....but by related things.