question about cancer pt and immunizations...

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Oct 10, 2006

Would you like me to move this to the Oncology Forum? You might get more responses there.

rehab nurse · Oct 10, 2006

Would you like me to move this to the Oncology Forum? You might get more responses there.

sure, Eric. i posted in General since i didn't know where to post it. i figured maybe a peds nurse with experience with parents with Ca and/or oncology nurses may both go across it. maybe it's best off in oncology.

thanks Eric!!!!

adria37 · Oct 20, 2006

The concern is with live virus vaccines, vaccinia, polio and measles. Here is a source, there are better ones but it is the first I pulled up and it will give you a start

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/imm/immcomp.shtml

Jolie, BSN · Oct 20, 2006

I can't imagine a situation where a child's immunizations would take precedence over maternal contact!

Live vaccines are of concern to immune-compromised patients, and need to be avoided. I am certain that it would be possible to work with the child's pediatrician to devise an alternative immunization schedule so that neither the mother's or child's health would be compromised. Some vaccines have both live and killed versions, such as polio and influenza.

I was diagnosed with cancer when my daughter was a month old. We did not yet know the extent of my illness or whether treatment would be limited to surgery or include chemo/radiation/immune therapy. I was referred to a nurse practitoner at out local health department who was an expert in immunizations. Her recommendation was to avoid all live vaccines for the time being, which did not really affect my daughter's schedule all that much. Ultimately, my treatment was limited to surgery and we were able to revert to a 'normal' vaccination schedule.