COVID-19 vaccine thoughts/concerns

Please feel free to read, share your thoughts, your stories and connect with others!
utahgal7
Posts: 201
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 12:04 pm

COVID-19 vaccine thoughts/concerns

Postby utahgal7 » Thu Dec 03, 2020 11:31 am

Hi everyone,

I was wondering what others on this forum are thinking about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Question 1: Are you open to getting the vaccine right away or do you want to wait until more information is published about side effects, safety, etc.?
Question 2: Are there any concerns that cancer patients (not currently receiving chemotherapy/radiation/immunotherapy) should have?

I don't know if this topic has been discussed in the forums before. If it has, I apologize. Also, I am NOT trying to start a heated debate about being either for or against a vaccine.

Thank you in advance for your opinions and thoughts!

Have a great day,

Paige
02/20 Rectal Cancer dx - 4 cm mass; located 9 cm from AV
03/20 CEA 2.7; 0.9; 1.4; 0.9; 0.9; 1.2; 1.0; 0.8; 1.1; 1.0; 1.1; 1.7; 1.8; 1.8
1.9; 2.4; 2.3; 2.8; 2.2, 2.8, 3.2; 3.0; 1.6; 2.0; 1.2
04/20 ST Radiation; 04/20 LAR surgery w/ileostomy; ypT3N1bM0; MSS, KRAS G12A
05/20 CAPEOX; 08/20 Ileostomy reversal
12/20 CT scan; lung nodules (watch and wait);
11/22 lung nodule biopsy positive for RC met;
1/23 VATS right lower lobe wedge resection
FOLFIRI 10 cycles

boxhill
Posts: 789
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:40 am

Covid-19 vaccinations?

Postby boxhill » Thu Dec 03, 2020 2:19 pm

I saw my onc today, and he mentioned that I may well be getting the vaccine through them within the next month. But I heard on the radio while driving home that Maine may only be getting 12,000 doses in this first wave, while they were hoping for three times that many.

Has anyone else heard anything on the subject from their doctors?
F, 64 at DX CRC Stage IV
3/17/18 blockage, r hemi
11 of 25 LN,5 mesentery nodes
5mm liver met
pT3 pN2b pM1
BRAF wild, KRAS G12D
dMMR, MSI-H
5/18 FOLFOX
7/18 and 11/18 CT NED
12/18 MRI 5mm liver mass, 2 LNs in porta hepatis
12/31/18 Keytruda
6/19 Multiphasic CT LNs normal, Liver stable
6/28/19 Pause Key, predisone for joint pain
7/31/19 Restart Key
9/19 CT stable
Pain: all fails but Celebrex
12/23/19 CT stable
5/20 MRI stable/NED
6/20 Stop Key
All MRIs NED

User avatar
beach sunrise
Posts: 1034
Joined: Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:14 pm

Re: COVID-19 vaccine thoughts/concerns

Postby beach sunrise » Thu Dec 03, 2020 2:20 pm

My family will not take it. We'll just keep doing what we have been doing to stay safe. Plus we are ready for treating symptoms at home if anyone gets it.
8/19 RC CEA 82.6 T3N0M0
5FU/rad 6 wk
IVC 75g 1 1/2 wks before surgery. Continue 2x a week
Surg 1/20 -margins T4bN1a IIIC G2 MSI- 1/20 LN+ LVI+ PNI-
pre cea 24 post 5.9
FOLFOX
7 rds 6-10 CEA 11.4 No more
CEA
7/20 11.1 8.8
8/20 7.8
9/20 8.8, 9, 8.6
10/20 8.1
11/20 8s
12/20 8s-9s
ADAPT++++ chrono
CEA
10/23/22 26.x
12/23/22 22.x
2023
1/5 17.1
1/20 15.9
3/30 14.9
6/12 13.3
8/1 2.1
Nodule RML SUV 1.3 5mm
Rolles 3 of 4 lung nodules cancer
KRAS
Chem-sens test failed Not enough ca cells to test

zephyr
Posts: 363
Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2016 7:31 am

Re: COVID-19 vaccine thoughts/concerns

Postby zephyr » Thu Dec 03, 2020 3:58 pm

I am more afraid of COVID-19 than cancer so I'm in ... but my current thinking is to only consider whatever vaccine Dr. Fauci receives.
Nov-2009 Early stage CRC, routine colonoscopy
2010-2014 F/U colonoscopies, all clear
Jun-2016 CRC during F/U colonoscopy, surgery, Stage 4, KRAS, MSS
Aug-2016-May-2018 Folfox, 5FU, Folfiri & Avastin
Aug/Sep-2018 YAG laser surgeries (Germany), 11 nodules removed
Nov-2018 clean CT scan
Mar-2019 New lung nodules
Apr-2019 Dec-2020 Xeloda/Avastin, SBRT, cont. Xeloda/Avastin
Mar-2021 Forfiri/Avastin
Mar-2022 Ablation & Thoracotomy
Feb-2023 Folfiri & Avastin
Nov-2023 Xeloda & Avastin

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: COVID-19 vaccine thoughts/concerns

Postby Lee » Thu Dec 03, 2020 4:21 pm

I want the vaccine, the sooner the better.

When I finished chemo, my Onc told me my immune system will always be compromised. Herman Cain was an colon cancer survivor, when he got the virus, he did not survive it. I suspect his immune system was compromised just like mine is.

My PCP, while they don't believe in lock downs, both have told me I do need to take the extra steps to protect myself.

I understand the vaccine could possibly kill me, but if get the virus, I don't know if I would seek medical help. Dying slowly on a ventilator is not something I want to face. So either the vaccine protects me or kills me, butt the virus itself will more than likely will kill me. To me, the vaccine is the lesser of 2 evils.

And I am sick & tired of not being able to get my life back.

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

stu
Posts: 1613
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2013 5:46 pm

Re: COVID-19 vaccine thoughts/concerns

Postby stu » Thu Dec 03, 2020 4:24 pm

It’s a big yes for me . Our first vaccine takes place on the 8 th of Dec ! If I could track down the location I would roll up with my parents with their sleeves rolled up !
For my own family I will closely observe the next few months before my young adult children are offered it . They have very low risk anyway so it’s a different scenario in my mind to introduce a risk to them . I feel it’s less of a risk for me to take it .
Stu
supporter to my mum who lives a great life despite a difficult diagnosis
stage4 2009 significant spread to liver
2010 colon /liver resection
chemo following recurrence
73% of liver removed
enjoying life treatment free
2016 lung resection
Oct 2017 nice clear scan . Two lung nodules disappeared
Oct 2018. Another clear scan .

utahgal7
Posts: 201
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 12:04 pm

Re: COVID-19 vaccine thoughts/concerns

Postby utahgal7 » Thu Dec 03, 2020 4:56 pm

beach sunrise - I can totally respect that decision.
zephyr - I agree with you. I am terrified of Covid-19 too.
Lee - Yes, the vaccine would be the lesser of two evils. I want my life to return to normal as well.
Stu - That's great that you can get the vaccine on Dec. 8! I hope your symptoms after vaccination are minimal.
02/20 Rectal Cancer dx - 4 cm mass; located 9 cm from AV
03/20 CEA 2.7; 0.9; 1.4; 0.9; 0.9; 1.2; 1.0; 0.8; 1.1; 1.0; 1.1; 1.7; 1.8; 1.8
1.9; 2.4; 2.3; 2.8; 2.2, 2.8, 3.2; 3.0; 1.6; 2.0; 1.2
04/20 ST Radiation; 04/20 LAR surgery w/ileostomy; ypT3N1bM0; MSS, KRAS G12A
05/20 CAPEOX; 08/20 Ileostomy reversal
12/20 CT scan; lung nodules (watch and wait);
11/22 lung nodule biopsy positive for RC met;
1/23 VATS right lower lobe wedge resection
FOLFIRI 10 cycles

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: COVID-19 vaccine thoughts/concerns

Postby Lee » Thu Dec 03, 2020 6:06 pm

From what I have been hearing, the 1st shot is okay, it is the 2nd shot that could knock you down.

With the 2nd shot, plan to take a day or two off from work. For about 24 up to 36 hrs, it could hit you hard. High fever, headache, chills, etc. Butt after that you should be okay. And not all people have this type of reaction. Butt I am assuming with my compromised immune system, it's going to hit me hard. With a 95% protective effectiveness rate with the vaccine, I want the vaccine.

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

utahgal7
Posts: 201
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 12:04 pm

Re: COVID-19 vaccine thoughts/concerns

Postby utahgal7 » Thu Dec 03, 2020 6:17 pm

Lee,

That's good to know about the 2nd shot. Now, I know what to expect. I won't have to worry about missing work since I am a stay at home mom.
02/20 Rectal Cancer dx - 4 cm mass; located 9 cm from AV
03/20 CEA 2.7; 0.9; 1.4; 0.9; 0.9; 1.2; 1.0; 0.8; 1.1; 1.0; 1.1; 1.7; 1.8; 1.8
1.9; 2.4; 2.3; 2.8; 2.2, 2.8, 3.2; 3.0; 1.6; 2.0; 1.2
04/20 ST Radiation; 04/20 LAR surgery w/ileostomy; ypT3N1bM0; MSS, KRAS G12A
05/20 CAPEOX; 08/20 Ileostomy reversal
12/20 CT scan; lung nodules (watch and wait);
11/22 lung nodule biopsy positive for RC met;
1/23 VATS right lower lobe wedge resection
FOLFIRI 10 cycles

boxhill
Posts: 789
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:40 am

Re: COVID-19 vaccine thoughts/concerns

Postby boxhill » Thu Dec 03, 2020 6:55 pm

I started the other thread on the subject without having seen this one.
=>>>>> [[ your original post has been merged into this topic - ccmc ]]

As I said there, my onc told me today that I should probably get it through them within the next 6 weeks or so. Apparently he thinks it will be safe for me, despite immunotherapy.

I'll get it as soon as I can. Sure, if you have a mild case you can manage it at home. But there's no way to know if your case would be mild or not in advance. Too many people have died. Too many people who have survived continue to suffer long term effects. Even if your own case is mild you can inadvertently spread it to someone who gets much sicker, or even dies.

I'm not willing to take the chance. And I want my life back, ASAP! :)

On a related topic, he told me that a patient of one of his partners insisted on getting together with their child and his/her family of 4 from Chicago over Thanksgiving, despite the doctor's strong advice not to do it. Apparently they drove out from Chicago. Now everyone in the family is positive and symptomatic, including the immunosuppressed cancer patient (who has other health issues in addition). Hoping they survive. :(
F, 64 at DX CRC Stage IV
3/17/18 blockage, r hemi
11 of 25 LN,5 mesentery nodes
5mm liver met
pT3 pN2b pM1
BRAF wild, KRAS G12D
dMMR, MSI-H
5/18 FOLFOX
7/18 and 11/18 CT NED
12/18 MRI 5mm liver mass, 2 LNs in porta hepatis
12/31/18 Keytruda
6/19 Multiphasic CT LNs normal, Liver stable
6/28/19 Pause Key, predisone for joint pain
7/31/19 Restart Key
9/19 CT stable
Pain: all fails but Celebrex
12/23/19 CT stable
5/20 MRI stable/NED
6/20 Stop Key
All MRIs NED

roadrunner
Posts: 460
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2020 8:46 pm

Re: COVID-19 vaccine thoughts/concerns

Postby roadrunner » Thu Dec 03, 2020 8:37 pm

I would urge those who intend to avoid the vaccine to reconsider. The current candidates are mRNA vaccines. They do not contain live or even whole virus, and thus cannot give you COVID-19. There were no (zero) deaths, or even serious side effects, in very robust (30,000 - 40,000 person) trials. Moreover, these vaccines are 95% effective in healthy people. It is possible that the vaccines will not work as well for some of us (especially those on current or recent chemotherapy or who have undergone pelvic radiation), but even in the elderly, one (and probably both) of the current approval candidates are 100% effective at protecting against severe disease and death, and very effective against infection. COVID itself, on the other hand, can be quite deadly for cancer patients and survivors. Mortality rates vary widely by age, comorbidities, type of malignancy, etc., but suffice it to say it’s not good. Anything that improves those odds is in my opinion very desirable. And again, these candidates killed 0/70,000. COVID has already killed 270,000 or so in the US alone. And compare for example, the death rate from standard chemo (which many of us volunteered for) alone, which is in the low single digits, percent-wise.

Two caveats: I would always check with my doctors before getting any vaccine and I must admit total ignorance about how immunotherapy interacts with these vaccines, so nothing I say relates to that.

Ok, end of rant. I’m just a huge vaccine fan — if anybody figures out how to get one sooner short of going into the health care field, let me know! :D
7/19: RC: Staged IIIA, T2N1M0
approx 4.25 cm, low/mid rectum, mod. well diff.; lung micronodule
8/19-10/19 4 rds.FOLFOX neoadjuvant, 3 w/Oxiplatin (reduced 70-75%)
neoadjuvant chemorad 11/19
4 rounds FOLFOX July-August 2020
ncCR 10/20; biopsies neg
TAE 11/20, tumor cells removed
Chest CT 3/30/21 growth in 2 nodules (3 and 5mm)
VATS 12/8/21 sub-pleural met 7mm.
SBRT nodule 1/22
6/20/22 TAE rectal polyp benign)
NED from 3/22 - 3/23
4 cycles FOLFIRI
LUL VATS lobectomy for radio resistant met 7/7/23

roadrunner
Posts: 460
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2020 8:46 pm

Re: COVID-19 vaccine thoughts/concerns

Postby roadrunner » Thu Dec 03, 2020 8:56 pm

One more point: Only 10-15% of people experienced even mild side effects, lasting only 24-36 hours. Some information above on the side effects data is innaccurate or appears to be somewhat exaggerated. I’ll admit that a doctor’s “mild” may not be everyone’s “mild,” but my strong impression is that these side effects are very similar to those for the flu shot, just the immune system ramping up. To be precise, I’m talking about the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
7/19: RC: Staged IIIA, T2N1M0
approx 4.25 cm, low/mid rectum, mod. well diff.; lung micronodule
8/19-10/19 4 rds.FOLFOX neoadjuvant, 3 w/Oxiplatin (reduced 70-75%)
neoadjuvant chemorad 11/19
4 rounds FOLFOX July-August 2020
ncCR 10/20; biopsies neg
TAE 11/20, tumor cells removed
Chest CT 3/30/21 growth in 2 nodules (3 and 5mm)
VATS 12/8/21 sub-pleural met 7mm.
SBRT nodule 1/22
6/20/22 TAE rectal polyp benign)
NED from 3/22 - 3/23
4 cycles FOLFIRI
LUL VATS lobectomy for radio resistant met 7/7/23

Koreysue
Posts: 258
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2018 2:36 pm

Re: COVID-19 vaccine thoughts/concerns

Postby Koreysue » Thu Dec 03, 2020 10:19 pm

I will get the vaccine as soon as it is available to me. They had 40,000 volunteers for one of the brands and even more each for the other. They haven’t skimped on safety, they got the process sped up in regards to funding and other red tape.
If you are on instagram, there are 3 people who have soooo much accurate info. They have credentials, like virologist, epidemiologist, etc. Here are their instagram names:

kinggutterbaby (sounds silly but she’s legit)
kennen hutchison
jessica Malaty Rivera

Check out their highlight bubbles at the top of their profile.

As to safety for immune compromised folks- the 2 vaccines that are ready now, are not live attenuated vaccines so they should not be a problem, but obviously... ask your onc.
Dx: 6/2017 stage 3 CC
Sigmoid, 2 nodes
CEA at dx: 6.1
Sigmoid Colectomy/folfox (last chemo (1/31/18)
CEA 4/2018: 2.4
CEA 7/2018: 3.7
Colonoscopy 8/18 clean
PET scan 8/20/18 NED
CEA 11/2018: 3.8
CEA 2/2019: 3.2
CT NED 6/18/19 / CEA : 3.4
CEA 10/21/19: 3.2
CEA 3/9/20: 3.8
CT NED /CEA 6/17/20: 3.8
CEA 11/4/20 4.6 <——— whyyyy? (will retest in a few weeks)
CT NED 12/1/20 CEA: 3.5
CEA 5/21 4.2
CEA 10/21 3.4
colonoscopy 10/21 10mm polyp
CEA 4/22 3.7
CEA 7/22 3.8
CEA 12/22 4
CEA 1/22 3.2 and NED 5yr scan

Koreysue
Posts: 258
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2018 2:36 pm

Re: COVID-19 vaccine thoughts/concerns

Postby Koreysue » Thu Dec 03, 2020 10:21 pm

roadrunner wrote:I would urge those who intend to avoid the vaccine to reconsider. The current candidates are mRNA vaccines. They do not contain live or even whole virus, and thus cannot give you COVID-19. There were no (zero) deaths, or even serious side effects, in very robust (30,000 - 40,000 person) trials. Moreover, these vaccines are 95% effective in healthy people. It is possible that the vaccines will not work as well for some of us (especially those on current or recent chemotherapy or who have undergone pelvic radiation), but even in the elderly, one (and probably both) of the current approval candidates are 100% effective at protecting against severe disease and death, and very effective against infection. COVID itself, on the other hand, can be quite deadly for cancer patients and survivors. Mortality rates vary widely by age, comorbidities, type of malignancy, etc., but suffice it to say it’s not good. Anything that improves those odds is in my opinion very desirable. And again, these candidates killed 0/70,000. COVID has already killed 270,000 or so in the US alone. And compare for example, the death rate from standard chemo (which many of us volunteered for) alone, which is in the low single digits, percent-wise.

Two caveats: I would always check with my doctors before getting any vaccine and I must admit total ignorance about how immunotherapy interacts with these vaccines, so nothing I say relates to that.

Ok, end of rant. I’m just a huge vaccine fan — if anybody figures out how to get one sooner short of going into the health care field, let me know! :D


haha roadrunner- I was just thinking today.... maybe i could get a job as a janitor at a healthcare facility real quick..would that count? :lol: :lol: :lol:
Dx: 6/2017 stage 3 CC
Sigmoid, 2 nodes
CEA at dx: 6.1
Sigmoid Colectomy/folfox (last chemo (1/31/18)
CEA 4/2018: 2.4
CEA 7/2018: 3.7
Colonoscopy 8/18 clean
PET scan 8/20/18 NED
CEA 11/2018: 3.8
CEA 2/2019: 3.2
CT NED 6/18/19 / CEA : 3.4
CEA 10/21/19: 3.2
CEA 3/9/20: 3.8
CT NED /CEA 6/17/20: 3.8
CEA 11/4/20 4.6 <——— whyyyy? (will retest in a few weeks)
CT NED 12/1/20 CEA: 3.5
CEA 5/21 4.2
CEA 10/21 3.4
colonoscopy 10/21 10mm polyp
CEA 4/22 3.7
CEA 7/22 3.8
CEA 12/22 4
CEA 1/22 3.2 and NED 5yr scan

roadrunner
Posts: 460
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2020 8:46 pm

Re: COVID-19 vaccine thoughts/concerns

Postby roadrunner » Thu Dec 03, 2020 11:08 pm

Koreysue: I know, right? I think it makes total sense to give it to medical personnel first, but man, I wish I could get it somehow. We have managed (or mismanaged I should say) to get to the worst of this right as the end comes in sight, and that’s a damned shame.
7/19: RC: Staged IIIA, T2N1M0
approx 4.25 cm, low/mid rectum, mod. well diff.; lung micronodule
8/19-10/19 4 rds.FOLFOX neoadjuvant, 3 w/Oxiplatin (reduced 70-75%)
neoadjuvant chemorad 11/19
4 rounds FOLFOX July-August 2020
ncCR 10/20; biopsies neg
TAE 11/20, tumor cells removed
Chest CT 3/30/21 growth in 2 nodules (3 and 5mm)
VATS 12/8/21 sub-pleural met 7mm.
SBRT nodule 1/22
6/20/22 TAE rectal polyp benign)
NED from 3/22 - 3/23
4 cycles FOLFIRI
LUL VATS lobectomy for radio resistant met 7/7/23


Return to “Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 116 guests