Coronavirus (COVID-19) Question

Immunotherapy drugs in general boost the white blood cells (t-cells) so if anything I would guess and we are all guessing on this virus at this point, is that if you have melanoma and are on immunotherapy drugs like Nivo or Pembro then your immune system is running on all cylinders. Now, if you have developed a side effect because your immune system is running overtime and has caused an IRAE like colitis and you are on steroids to try and slow down the immune system then depending on your blood work your white blood cell count could be down. Case in point I had my blood work done last week because I have developed Colitis from Nivo back in Oct 2019 and we having been going up and down on tapers since, trying to get things under control, my blood work, white blood cell count keeps coming back as elevated or high, which means the prednisone still has not got my immune system knocked down yet. ( not a medical opinion but my own thoughts on this subject). Best Wishes!!!Ed

Per the cdc guidelines regarding people at risk for covid-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html

Which states: “Early information out of China, where COVID-19 first started, shows that some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness. This includes:
Older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like: Heart disease, Diabetes, Lung disease (COPD, Asthma)”

ALWAYS – folks who are immunoCOMPROMISED are at risk for any infectious disease. Conditions that can lead to immunoCOMPROMISE include:

Neutropenia – a decrease in white cells that fight off germs – can be caused by CHEMOTHERAPY (not the same as immunotherapy), radiation, stem cell transplant, bone marrow transplant and some drugs.

Certain medications can decrease the immune response:
Corticosteroids taken by mouth or IV: Budesonide (Entocort EC), Cortisone (Cortone), Dexamethasone (Decadron), Hydrocortisone (Cortef), Methylprednisolone (Medrol), Prednisolone (Prelone), Prednisone (Deltasone), Triamcinolone.
TNF inhibitors (biologics): Adalimumab (Humira®), Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia®), Etanercept (Enbrel®), Golimumab (Simponi®), Infliximab (Remicade®

Certain types of bone cancers that diminish the production of important white cells

HIV and AIDS patients and other immune-deficiency syndromes

Patients with asplenia – when you do not have normal spleen function – whether by surgery or by blood conditions like sickle cell disease, ITP, thalassemia, or spherocytosis.

People born with deficits to the immune system: XLA, CVIC, SCID

People with conditions that directly affect the immune systems like leukemia and multiple myeloma

Patients on immune suppressing treatment as in after organ transplant

Conditions that can put you at risk for infections include:
Malnutrition, Severe burns or broken skin/or mucus membranes, Smoking, The immediate post op period after surgery or anesthesia, viral hepatitis, poor sanitation.

Best advice for everyone:
Stay home if you are ill.
Stay away from those who are ill unless you are a healthcare professional.
Use common sense. Don’t cough, sneeze or snot on others.
Wash your hands.

Hope that helps.

here is my observation: I went to infusion therapy last Wednesday to a clinic attached to a large metro hospital. Absolutely no precautions were being taken in regards the some 50 people in the waiting room nor any of the staff. My Clinic has a thing called a Patient Portal where you can communicate with your medical team and they email or the hospital sends notices or test results or sets appointment. The point is at the touch of a finger they could send out thousands of CV alert of info to their patients. THEY HAVE NOT DONE THIS SO FAR

my point: do not depend on you HC provider to protect you from CV.

Motorious: my Episcopalian Priest in FTW just made the news. u guessed it……..he’s a vector. Probably some confab he went to on church business. That ought to cause a lot to stir at the local grocery store.

if you are like me you said to yourself, I will get a bunch of handi-wipes and I am good to go. well here is a bit of a newsflash

SOAP , yes good ole HANDSOAP is better, according to this scientist: https://www.thedailybeast.com/is-soap-or-hand-sanitizer-best-for-stopping-coronavirus?ref=home