Covid 19 vaccine

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radnyc
Posts: 446
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 6:32 pm

Re: Covid 19 vaccine

Postby radnyc » Sun Jan 03, 2021 10:42 am

I’ve been on and off this board for 10 years, and it has been very helpful and comforting to share our journeys, but this thread contains some of the worst comments I’ve ever seen. To question the integrity of Dr. Fauci and the racist China virus comment?! Ignorance and stupidity in full display.
DX Jan 2010, at age 47
Feb - colon resection - 2/17 nodes positive
April - liver mets - Stage 4
3 months Folfox chemotherapy
August '10 liver resection and HAI pump
7 months chemo FUDR HAI and Folfiri systemic
NED since August 2010
Last treatment April 2011
HAI Pump removed Dec 2015

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

Re: Covid 19 vaccine

Postby stu » Sun Jan 03, 2021 10:56 am

Hi Roadrunner ,

I think the article you linked in helped me clarify my concerns . On one hand we have a process that has undergone clinical trials on the other other hand is scientific opinion !
For me I would rather stick with the evidence of trials . I get the concern of vaccines for the majority but honestly we buckled under the flu jab this year here and given the time constraints I think they would struggle with the logistics .

The emails have already been sent cancelling the second dose here so I guess it’s a work in progress . I was speaking to two people this morning and both said the system in place took around 50 mins for one individual to get vaccinated by the time they stood in each line to fill in forms and then another for the actual vaccine !! Yikes !

Maybe they will improve with time !

Take care everyone ,

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 .

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

Re: Covid 19 vaccine

Postby roadrunner » Tue Jan 05, 2021 11:39 am

Stu:

Saw an interesting report this morning that intersects with our discussion above. The US FDA disagrees with the UK approach on the grounds that it is not supported by the trial data—not that it won’t work, just that there was not sufficient evidence that it would—and noted that most of the Moderna volunteers who showed a strong response after one dose (as mentioned in the article I linked above) weren’t followed up long enough to ensure that their antibody response would be long-lasting. So the US position, at least, appears to be to continue with the two-shot regimen.

Sort of. The vaccine program director announced that the US is considering cutting the dose amount by 50% for those in the 18-55 age range. This also does not seem to have been studied, so it’s hard to know what to make of that.

Perhaps both the UK approach and this new US idea just reflect political pressure, a general fact that initial vaccine program designs are usually designed with both “belt and suspenders” built in, and difficulties getting the vaccine distributions programs growing while the disease ravages populations and economies. Whatever it is, it’s not confidence-inspiring.
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

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

Re: Covid 19 vaccine

Postby stu » Tue Jan 05, 2021 12:01 pm

Very interesting indeed Roadrunner. So they may take a risk but with a younger , possibly less vulnerable group !
I did hear that the Drs who looked at the data have made a statement . They have drawn their conclusions from looking at the trials raw data not its published data . However I think that’s hard for the general public to find .

It is a departure from the safeguards of the normal processes and as indicate a bit of a political squeeze in the midst .
We are back in full lockdown as half our transmissions are the new variant. Yikes !
Very interesting discussion all round and helping me slowly unpack it all . Still don’t know what way I will go . Maybe take the first dose and see what unfolds . Not keen on the second dose being from a different manufacturer. That has been raised here too .
Living and learning as ever .
Take care ,
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 .

User avatar
JJH
Posts: 408
Joined: Mon Apr 24, 2017 7:26 am

Re: Covid 19 vaccine

Postby JJH » Tue Jan 05, 2021 2:05 pm

"The darkest hour is just before the dawn" - Thomas Fuller (1650)
●●●

behconsult
Posts: 264
Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2014 4:53 pm

Re: Covid 19 vaccine

Postby behconsult » Tue Jan 05, 2021 10:03 pm

I got mine first dose today as I work in the medical field. I called my onc as I was taking Xeloda, Avastin, and the Moderna all in the same day. He reported I was good to go. Bottoms up with the triple combo. I am grateful. B
Stage 4 Age 56 BrafV660E 5/14
spot on perit/ Right side tumor
Resctn 6/9/2014
Folfox strt 7/2014. 6 of 12 tx
Chemo induced DM2
Pet 4 mets to lung (1 cm, 6 mm) Xeloda/Avastin 9/16 to present.
Cryo-ablation to four spots- Collapsed lung/chest tube 2x
Possible local recurrence in a spot or two on PET. Stable CT

Usmccolon
Posts: 50
Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2019 12:45 am

Re: Covid 19 vaccine

Postby Usmccolon » Wed Jan 06, 2021 1:38 pm

Choosing to get the vaccine is a personal decision and there is no one right answer for everyone.

Personally I'm not getting it yet but would never try and stop anyone else.

I can link articles of anyone cares but this is my current understanding.

Technically I don't think these vaccines meet definition of vaccine. When you take the pfizer or moderna vaccine is doesn't offer you immunity from infection (no evidence it does and was acknowledged by FDA review board). Covid-19 is not a virus but the disease caused by the sars cov2 virus. These vaccines are effective at preventing symptoms of infection. It provides immunity to your lower respiratory tract but the virus can still take hold in upper respiratory tract. You should get sick or show symptoms are getting vaccine but there is no evidence it stops the transmission of it to others.

Yes they went through all the steps normal vaccines do at accelerated rate but they don't have as much data as normal vaccines do. The safety data included only 38,000 people I think for pfizer vaccine because of deadline to submit that information. That could be why they didn't see any allergic reactions during study. Those allergic reactions are also pretty rare.

If you read the FAQ on government websites the answers are mostly "we don't know for sure"

So long story short it's to early for me. That said if I was in groups that had high rates of severe infections and I knew the stats to that I would be more inclined I think.

As far as Dr Fauci goes I do think he made a big mistake. I read an interview where he said it thinks 90% of people will need to get vaccinated for herd immunity ( again no evidence it stops virus infection or transmission to others so this statement period makes no sense) however he gave lower numbers in beginning because he didn't think the american people were ready to hear what he really thought. I guess I don't like the idea of being misled because someone doesn't think I can handle the truth.

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

Re: Covid 19 vaccine

Postby stu » Thu Jan 07, 2021 3:36 am

Great news Behconsult . Hope it gives you immunity really quickly .
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 .

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

Re: Covid 19 vaccine

Postby stu » Thu Jan 07, 2021 3:41 am

Hi Usmccolon ,

I think people will have to go with what they are comfortable with at the end of the day . It’s individuals who have to live with the consequences.
Your point about transmission is interesting. We have a faster rate of transmission at the moment due to the new variant.
We shall see as it unfolds .
I am leaning towards taking the first dose and evaluate as I go along . Certainly not keen to add a vaccine from a different company for my second dose . That’s raising alarm bells !
Anyway take care ,
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 .

Usmccolon
Posts: 50
Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2019 12:45 am

Re: Covid 19 vaccine

Postby Usmccolon » Thu Jan 07, 2021 11:20 am

Hi Stu,

For sure it's an individual decision. If you do get vaccine both doses have to be from same company. They actually give you a card I think so when you go back they give you right one. It's important to remember these only have emergency authorization meaning they don't have a lot of info so you really need to take it as it was tested. I know in UK they are talking about spacing out doses longer to get more people first shot. Problem is they weren't tested that way so no one knows how that will effect it's efficacy.

One other thing I found really "interesting" was the comments from FDA board on the moderna vaccine. Again remembering we don't really know everything yet about these vaccines and they are emergency use vaccines so by definition haven't been fully approved and vetted. The FDA said that the benefits of the moderna vaccine outweigh ANY risk of taking it. Again to me personally that's kind of a scary statement. As with all things death is always a risk in anything no matter how smaller the risk is. I guess I personally feel that statement is a bit strong.

Also you really have to read these articles like a lawyer lol. You'll find some that say there is no evidence of any long term side effects. Yes it's a true statement but what they don't tell you is that there is no evidence either way lol. Now pfizer and moderna are giving the real vaccine to the placebo group and they won't really be able to determine long term side effects since the future data they are still collecting will be tainted. How do you compare long term effects when even the placebo group got the real vaccine?

Again I'm not saying the vaccine isn't safe or that no one should get it but I do feel that people should be told the truth to make an informed decision for themselves to determine if known and unknown risks are worth the potential benefits. Remember we don't even know how long the effects of vaccine last.

All that said before getting it I would suggest asking your Dr how many people with compromised immune systems were part of study. Vaccines work by creating an immunological response.

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

Re: Covid 19 vaccine

Postby roadrunner » Thu Jan 07, 2021 12:34 pm

Immunocompromised people were excluded from the trials. That said, there is a very long history of vaccine use in immunocompromised individuals. Live, attenuated vaccines have in some cases caused problems for immunocompromised recipients, but not “killed” or inactivated vaccines, like the adenovirus vector COVID vaccines. The Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines don’t even contain dead virus of any sort, but instead only some viral RNA. Thus, as expected, they are associated only with the typical (nearly always mild) side effects of any vaccine, none of which will likely be enhanced in an immunocompromised patient. There is thus no reason to think immunocompromised patients have any enhanced safety risk from the mRNA or adenovirus vector COVID vaccines.

Efficacy, or course, is another matter. That will depend on each person’s immune system. This is why cancer patients and others with immunocompromise should consult with their doctors about taking the COVID vaccine. My opinion is that the vaccines will still be a good choice for most people, including immunocompromised people, because the alternative—getting, or at least high risk of getting, COVID—is quite bad, especially for an immunicompromised person. Remember that if there is seroconversion, even a lesser response may well protect against the worst outcomes (severe disease and death). In my view, the main reason to talk to your doctor about the vaccine if you are immunocompromised is to determine whether you should get your antibody titer tested after taking it, and/or whether you should continue to observe restrictions on your activities and contacts despite taking it, due to efficacy worries.

In any case, I will take the strongest possible vaccine I can get as early as I can get it.
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

radnyc
Posts: 446
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 6:32 pm

Re: Covid 19 vaccine

Postby radnyc » Thu Jan 07, 2021 2:18 pm

I’m part of the AstraZeneca vaccine trial. I asked my oncologist at MSK if there was any problem with this and he said no, and gave me the go ahead. Had the first shot, had some mild side effects the first 24 hours and that was it. Will be going for the second shot next week. Hopefully I got the vaccine and not the placebo. I’ve been cancer free for 10 years, so clearly my case is different from those still in the fight.
DX Jan 2010, at age 47
Feb - colon resection - 2/17 nodes positive
April - liver mets - Stage 4
3 months Folfox chemotherapy
August '10 liver resection and HAI pump
7 months chemo FUDR HAI and Folfiri systemic
NED since August 2010
Last treatment April 2011
HAI Pump removed Dec 2015

Melanie67
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2019 6:57 pm

Re: Covid 19 vaccine

Postby Melanie67 » Fri Jan 08, 2021 9:31 am

Received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on January 4th. Slight soreness in my arm, no other side effects. Will be starting chemo on the 12th. Second shot on the 25th. I am an infection control nurse. So happy I was able to get the vaccine, for my patients, my parents, and myself.
Dx 1/18 rectal stage IV w/ 3 liver mets, age 50
Wife, mother, and as of 9/20/19 grandmother
MSS
1/18 to 4/18 FOLFOX
5/18 radiation
6/18 rectal and liver resection and temp ileostomy
7/18 to 10/18 FOLFOX
11/18 three possible lung mets
12/18 ileostomy reversal
5/19 VATS one confirmed met LUL
7/19 to 1/20 Xeloda
11/20 VATS LLL
1/21 - ?4/21 Xeloda

peanut_8
Posts: 2340
Joined: Sun May 25, 2014 1:31 pm

Re: Covid 19 vaccine

Postby peanut_8 » Fri Jan 08, 2021 12:50 pm

Found this today for any fellow Texans.

Interactive map of Covid-19 Vaccine Providers

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/web ... fe4a05920a
female, diagnosed Jan 14, RC stage 2a, age 56
MSS
April 14, 28 chemo/rad with Xeloda
June 14 adjuvant Xeloda 6 rounds
currently NED

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

Re: Covid 19 vaccine

Postby Koreysue » Sat Jan 09, 2021 3:46 am

Usmccolon wrote:Hi Stu,

For sure it's an individual decision. If you do get vaccine both doses have to be from same company. They actually give you a card I think so when you go back they give you right one. It's important to remember these only have emergency authorization meaning they don't have a lot of info so you really need to take it as it was tested. I know in UK they are talking about spacing out doses longer to get more people first shot. Problem is they weren't tested that way so no one knows how that will effect it's efficacy.

One other thing I found really "interesting" was the comments from FDA board on the moderna vaccine. Again remembering we don't really know everything yet about these vaccines and they are emergency use vaccines so by definition haven't been fully approved and vetted. The FDA said that the benefits of the moderna vaccine outweigh ANY risk of taking it. Again to me personally that's kind of a scary statement. As with all things death is always a risk in anything no matter how smaller the risk is. I guess I personally feel that statement is a bit strong.

Also you really have to read these articles like a lawyer lol. You'll find some that say there is no evidence of any long term side effects. Yes it's a true statement but what they don't tell you is that there is no evidence either way lol. Now pfizer and moderna are giving the real vaccine to the placebo group and they won't really be able to determine long term side effects since the future data they are still collecting will be tainted. How do you compare long term effects when even the placebo group got the real vaccine?

Again I'm not saying the vaccine isn't safe or that no one should get it but I do feel that people should be told the truth to make an informed decision for themselves to determine if known and unknown risks are worth the potential benefits. Remember we don't even know how long the effects of vaccine last.

All that said before getting it I would suggest asking your Dr how many people with compromised immune systems were part of study. Vaccines work by creating an immunological response.


While I agree it is important to gather facts and be informed- By now we have several months of data on the trial participants and more to come while we wait our turn. To me, the terrible outcomes we have actually seen (mass death, heart damage, long haul covid, etc) from the virus itself, are far more frightening than a very very slight risk from a vaccine, that will be the key to allowing us to actually enjoy living again.
After weighing it out, the virus is the real risk IMO
Ksue
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


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