Should I visit him?!
Question: My cousin is recovering from leukemia. He's had chemo and a bone marrow transplant which has worked, so he's getting better. I'm supposed to meet up with him this weekend as I haven't seen him for ages. Thing is, I have a slight cold. It's not bad enough to stop me doing stuff but I'm worried I'll make him ill. What should I do?
Answers: My cousin is recovering from leukemia. He's had chemo and a bone marrow transplant which has worked, so he's getting better. I'm supposed to meet up with him this weekend as I haven't seen him for ages. Thing is, I have a slight cold. It's not bad enough to stop me doing stuff but I'm worried I'll make him ill. What should I do?
The best thing to do would be to call him and ask him. He is the only one who knows what he can handle. Also, it will let him know you are thinking about things that are vital to his recovery!
I'm not sure how colds affect all people recovering from cancer/leukemia but when my grandad who had the leuk. visited, by brother had a cold and never affected him.
I would leave it until between Christmas and New Year, just in case.
You are right to feel concern as the chemo and the leukaemia itself both attack the immune system.
On the other hand, following chemo there is nothing that your cousing wants more than to see people who love and support him. Chemo can be an intimidating and scary process and your cousin will definitely benefit emotionally from your visit. I agree call first, but I'm sure your cousin will say yes.
Just make sure you use basic common sense, cover your face when sneezing etc.
Happy Christmas.
Simply send him a get well soon card and explain that your sick with a cold.
It is good to know that he is getting better. The best thing to do is call him and ask his opion. He will also have a contact with a nurse who will be able to advise him if he is unsure. I am sure he would be grateful of your honesty and flattered that you care enough to worry! If you want a second opion why not ring and ask your doctors for advice? Merry Christmas!
ask your cousin to ask their doctor, they'll know far more than 99.9% of the people on here
Please don't go and visit him as when you are in remission from any type of Cancer after recently having treatment you have no immunity to any type of germs. The result of this can be devastating and can take a long time for the person to recover. Instead give him a ring and explain that you have a cold, and that you would rather not give him what you have got. He would much rather you do that than he be ill.
My brother died from leukaemia and the chemo and bone marrow transplant will give him hardly any immune defences, so I would stay away if I were you but it might be a good idea to telephone first and give him the option of you visiting or not.
I hope he makes a full recovery. It is a dreadful disease.
Leukemia At A Glance
* Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells.
* While the exact cause(s) of leukemia is not known, risk factors have been identified.
* Leukemias are grouped by how quickly the disease develops (acute or chronic) as well as by the type of blood cell that is affected.
* People with leukemia are at significantly increased risk for developing infections, anemia, and bleeding.
* Diagnosis of leukemia is supported by findings of the medical history and examination, and examining blood under a microscope. Leukemia cells can also be detected and further classified with a bone marrow aspiration and/or biopsy.
* Treatment of leukemia depends on the type of leukemia, certain features of the leukemia cells, the extent of the disease, and prior history of treatment, as well as the age and health of the patient.
* Most patients with leukemia are treated with chemotherapy. Some patients also may have radiation therapy and/or bone marrow transplantation.
Go see him what will make him sick is if he does not see you , a cold is nothing to what hes already fighting.
well how long ago was the chemo and the bone marrow transplant and if you are meeting up out side of his home then a slight cold might be the least of his worries suck on some butter menthol so you don't cough on him or simply cover your mouth when you cough if you need to blow your nose move away from him and wash your hands don't treat him any different then you normally would just wash your hands and don't sneeze or cough on him
It is not advised to go with a flue to visit a patient whose neutrophiles count are below 1.0. You can be danger to all the patient in the room with low count of neutrophiles white cells. When you feel better from a cold, still ware a MASK and visit him. Bone marrow is closely related with production of neutrophiles, defense system white cells, that are producing in bones. After high doses of chemo or radio, neutrophiles productions retrogrades, and tend to reproduce again. Neutrophiles are coming out from a small holes on bones and entering blood streem.
Answers like Foxy's are the reason why people should not rely on YA for serious questions such as this.
People with any type of disease that makes their immune system weak makes it harder for their body to fight off even the smallest thing such as a cold could turn into pnemonia. For people without a compromised immune system it would be no big deal. But I would wait until you are better before you visit him.