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Posted 11/5/2021 2:33 PM (GMT -5)
As we all know, there are various criteria regarding eligibility for the Covid vaccines. But, I've always wondered about the "compromised immune system."

Does having ANY cancer (discounting basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer) mean that one has a "compromised immune system"? What about our situation: PC? I would think the actual answer is NO, but I think having cancer passes muster under the "compromised immune system" criteria for the vaccine (I'm ignoring the age criteria which qualifies most of us).

Surely if you've had chemo, then you qualify, I assume.

What about the various HT drugs?
What if you are on a protracted HT vacation? Are you really compromised?

What about radiation? Doesn't that impact your immune system?
What about provenge?


I honestly am not sure of the answers, but I suspect some of you folks might know.

Mel

Post Edited (compiler) : 11/5/2021 1:36:11 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 11/5/2021 2:50 PM (GMT -5)

Teaching in a school building each day, with hundreds of youth passing in the hallways, and seeing many students and staff in the course of a day, I was eager to get the corona vaccine when it became available last winter.

I actually went to a weekend vaccination clinic, held on the campus of a nearby college.

This fall, Dr. Kwon's team at Mayo Clinic reached out to me personally.

They reviewed each case file for each of Dr. Kwon's patients.

With chemotherapy infusions in my medical history, plus a nine-week series of radiation treatments ---- they stated that I should get the corona BOOSTER shot, because my daily regimen of ZYTIGA (Abiraterone Acetate) plus PREDNISONE, can lower one's inherent immunity.

I didn't need further persuasion, and got my corona booster this fall, after my two-step PFIZER vaccine.

The news is reporting that a "4th shot" might be needed in 2022, six months after the booster, for immuno-compromised people. Time will tell.

I will let my medical team advise me on that, in the new year.

I also have several close family members with underlying health concerns.

For me --- getting the vaccine --- plus the additional booster --- was an easy decision for me.

No drums to beat --- just my own story to share ...

Best to each, and all ----
CYCLONE --- # IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
Posted 11/5/2021 3:02 PM (GMT -5)
I'm ADT, but under 65. My MO suggested I'm good to claim a booster, and I had the shot yesterday.
Posted 11/5/2021 3:11 PM (GMT -5)

One more anecdote ...

Saw my oncologist this week ... he and his wife both practice medicine, and were fully vaccinated ...

Both contracted a milder "breakthrough" case of corona ...

Both now getting BOOSTER shots TODAY!

CYCLONE - # Iowa State University
Posted 11/5/2021 3:33 PM (GMT -5)
As someone under 65 that is not technically permitted to get a booster, I certainly planned on saying I was compromised so I could get the shot. But it turns out no one even asked. (I went yesterday and crossed over from Pfizer to Moderna because I'm a wild and crazy guy.)

I know that doesn't answer your question. I suppose there's a chance that ADT and radiation has made me immunocompromised, but I'm not so sure. I certainly have never heard a doc say that about me.

PS Based on the subject of this e-mail thread, I was expecting some sort of privacy discussion...
Posted 11/5/2021 4:26 PM (GMT -5)
I don’t think they are going to challenge you if you want the booster. I got one and I am under 65. No questions asked.
Posted 11/5/2021 4:46 PM (GMT -5)
https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2020/may/what-it-means-to-be-immunocompromised
Posted 11/6/2021 9:30 AM (GMT -5)
After surgery, radiation, chemo, HT there have to be some issues with the immune system. In addition, as mentioned in the link, Corticosteroids, of which Prednisone is one, also affects the immune system. I have an appointment with the oncologist next week. Think I will ask her to put it on a scale of 1 to 10.
Posted 11/6/2021 9:41 AM (GMT -5)

Hello, Mr. Bill ----

Good thoughts expressed!

Let us know what your oncologist says, in regard to the scale of "1 to 10" question. Many of us here are on ZYTIGA (Abiraterone Acetate) and we take PREDNISONE along with it, each & every day.

I could tell Dr. Kwon's team at Mayo Clinic felt the booster was essential for my case.

They even followed up with me, to make sure I had gotten the corona booster, and to make sure I was faring well. I appreciated their outreach.

My best to you, Mr. Bill!

CYCLONE --- # Iowa State University
Posted 11/6/2021 9:44 AM (GMT -5)
As Michael and Duck said, I wasn't even asked. I was surprised by that. I thought they played it closer to the book.
Posted 11/6/2021 9:52 AM (GMT -5)

When I got to the pharmacy, after hearing from Dr. Kwon's team with their booster recommendation, I was simply asked to fill out a small form before getting the booster.

Very routine.

The pharmacist then took my corona vaccine card, and created a new one --- showing all the information on the two-dose PFIZER vaccine, plus the additional PFIZER booster shot.

Easy, breezy! No harm, no foul!

For me, it was peace of mind!

CYCLONE - # ISU (Team Colors: Cardinal & Gold)
Posted 11/6/2021 10:15 AM (GMT -5)
Thanks for the responses and the enlightening article.
I'm sure just having PC is enough to label us immuno compromised for the purpose of getting the vaccine.

My question still remains. I guess I'm asking:
Does merely having PC render us in reality as imm-comp?
Suppose you had radiation say 5 yrs ago?
Ditto with HT?

In my case, I've had radiation (IMRT in early 2011 but 2 rounds of SBRT, the last 2 1/2 yrs ago).

I have been very fortunate to have zero illnesses since my PC dx. in late 2009. I don't "feel" imm-comp, but I may well be. I don't really want to get a routine illness to find out! Heck, the article pointed out that you can have an overactive immune system that attacks your own body in response to a germ.

I vaguely recall having a blood test showing the various WBCs and having "normal" results.

Anyway, this is not a simple question.

Mel
Posted 11/6/2021 11:31 AM (GMT -5)
Last June(2020) after the first big Covid wave my wife wanted us to fly to Florida-a huge Covid state. Planes were thought to be Covid tubes by some. I called my MO and asked if I was immunocompromised. (Lupron, Zytiga, pred).
Answer: No. I flew there and no problems. I didn't catch Covid until I was vaccinated.
Posted 11/6/2021 5:41 PM (GMT -5)
'immunocompromised' covers a lot of (medical) ground. For instance, follow the link from Mumbo.
Posted 11/7/2021 8:58 AM (GMT -5)
I've had the two initial shots and the booster, all when they became available to those 65 and older. I was never even asked to show ID, let alone to prove my age or any health condition. Got in line. Got the shots.
Posted 11/7/2021 10:10 AM (GMT -5)
It certainly appears that for those of under 65 youngsters that none of us had even the slightest issue when getting our boosters. I wonder if there's any practical effect at all to the FDA approval of a booster for everyone over 65 and for those under 65 that are immunocompromised. A distinction without a difference?

During the initial vaccination program, California, like most places had taken a tiered approach: it was currently vaccinating those over 65 or over 55 that had been immunocompromised. I jumped the line (but only by a few days, really!) under the immunocompromised eligibility provision and at that time I had to attest to having one of list of conditions and cancer was on the list. I had expected something similar for the booster.
Posted 11/7/2021 2:15 PM (GMT -5)
Here is a study that was launched about a year ago. They may have results by now. You could do a search. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33120746/

A long-time friend of mine, who was treating his prostate cancer with diet alone, contracted COVID19. He was unvaccinated. He and his wife were both infected. She hit a rough patch with a short hospitalization, but survived. My friend was hospitalized almost immediately upon having symptoms, was intubated the next day, and was dead after his fifth day hospitalized. Was it the prostate cancer? I have no way of knowing, but he had no other history of illness.

As for Jeff and me, we were both vaccinated before we knew he had cancer. He got the booster two weeks before surgery.
Posted 11/11/2021 12:35 PM (GMT -5)
Visited Oncologist yesterday. My question to her was: taking into consideration G9, surgery in 2010, radiation in 2011, chemo in 2017, and starting HT & Prednisone after chemo, and that my PSA has been knocked down to undetectable, how immunocompromised am I? Using a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best - 1 the worse. She replied I would be a 7 or 8.

Mr. Bill

Post Edited (mr bill) : 11/12/2021 8:28:08 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/12/2021 11:46 AM (GMT -5)
Compromised...interesting word...whot?...splice it up nuance it down...pick your poison...
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