Covid19 …….. on Maui …… hitting cancer patients!!!

by Rick Davis | Aug 19, 2020 | Cancer Resources, Blood Cancers, Maui, Men 'Speaking Freely', Men's Breast Cancer, nmCRPC, Ovarian Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Women's Breast Cancer

One of the video chat, virtual groups our factotum Board Chair, Peter Kafka, moderates, is a men-only, pan-cancer meeting on the island of Maui (& Malakai), where he lives fulltime. His recent reminder for tonight’s meeting makes worrisome reading and includes helpful advice …… 

Aloha! ……. once again our local hospital is in the news due to very recent incidents of Covid-19 infections among some patients and staff. I don’t mention this to cause alarm, but rather to caution those of us who must out of necessity use the facilities of the hospital for treatment.  I found myself at the hospital for the administration of an injection on the very morning when this “outbreak” was first reported last week.  Of course it made me a little uncomfortable, but what to do?  Those of us with cancer, and particularly those of us undergoing treatment find ourselves in the “most vulnerable” category when it comes to exposure to Covid-19.  I suspect that many of you are paying particular attention to ways that  you can stay safe.  It turns out that there might be some things we can do.

When I was undergoing chemo infusions every three weeks at the Cancer Center I would don a disposable tyvek painter’s suit that I picked up inexpensively at the hardware store.  I would step into this suit in the hospital parking lot and when I was done with my 4 hour protocol I would remove the suit and toss it.  This would save me the hassle of thinking I needed to change out of my clothes right away and wash them.  Of course it might not have done any good, but it did give me peace of mind that I was taking some kind of additional protection other than wearing a mask and disposable gloves.

Another thing that I read about recently is the benefit of an annual flu vaccine.  I think there has been a study or two about the lower incidence of more serious incidence, side effects and death among some European populations who stayed up to date with their annual flu vaccines.  I know that Covid-19 is a different beast than the annual flu, but there might be some benefit to keeping up protection to the flu that strengthens our immune system in regards to Covid-19.  Don’t quote me on this theory, but since my cancer diagnosis some 6 + years ago I have made it a point to keep up with annual flu shots and pneumonia vaccines since I knew my immune system was compromised.  You may have noticed that all the drug stores and supermarkets are now advertising that the “walk in” flu shots are available for this year.  No need to see a doctor or clinic.

One of the ways that we tend to let our guard down is by thinking that there is no one that we know of that has caught Covid-19, been sick or in the worst case scenario has died from this disease.  I know I have caught myself getting a little careless because of this way of thinking.  But I remind myself that one of our regular participants on these bi-monthly calls got caught up in the first Maui Memorial Hospital outbreak last March when he unwittingly had to go to the hospital for treatment related to his cancer diagnosis.  He did contract the virus and subsequently died very shortly afterwards.

So, again I am not telling you this to cause alarm.  Just take some extra precautions.  I am certainly not saying you should stay  away  from doctors or the hospital.  I, myself have to utilize the hospital facilities several times a month and also get blood drawn at a local lab quite frequently.  I am not going to skip out on my cancer treatment protocol.  But I am going to take whatever steps I can to protect myself.

None of us need feel like we are alone on this journey!   Remember that Information is Power and the more information we share about our experience – the more powerful we are and we no longer feel like victims of our circumstance but masters of them instead.   

Be Well, Stay Strong and ENJOY!