Flu shot and Opdivo.

This topic has 9 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 8 months ago by MelanomaMike.

Post

- September 13, 2019 at 1:33 am
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Jewel
Participant
My husband had his first treatment of Opdivo today. Our oncologist is fine about getting the flu shot but I was surprised how divided some were on this. May I ask if you did or didn’t have the shot while on treatment? Thank you.

Jewel

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Replies

- - September 13, 2019 at 1:55 am
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  Bubbles
  Participant
  So glad you asked this question Jewel!! I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to post this….basically – GET YOUR FLU SHOT!!! Even if you are on immunotherapy!!!! That’s not me saying that (although I wholeheartedly agree!!!!) here’s the report from some super duper Melanoma Big Dogs: https://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2019/08/get-your-flu-shot-even-if-you-are-on.html
  
  That said, I got my flu shot all my years on Opdivo with the blessing of Dr. Weber and my other local oncologist. No adverse effects. Got the flu (and in my line of work I was exposed over and over and over!!!) only once in the 9 plus years that cover when I was on treatment and the years since, in a season when the coverage the vaccine provided didn’t jive with the strain that ended up in the community. So, I’ll be getting this year’s flu vaccine very soon.
  
  Hope your husband tolerates Opdivo as well as possible and is able to put all this melanoma mayhem behind both of you very soon!!! celeste
- - September 13, 2019 at 2:22 am
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  lkb
  Participant
  Started Nivo last year and got the flu shot a month later. No problems, no flu. Will get it again this year.
- - September 13, 2019 at 3:22 am
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  gopher38
  Participant
  Had flu shot. No problems.
- - September 13, 2019 at 9:13 am
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  Ellie_82
  Participant
  Hi Jewel, your husband may theoretically have an increased reaction to the flu shot while on immunotherapy, but imagine how bad would it be if he actually gets the flu? Of the 2, the flu shot seems to be a much “lesser evil”. In fact, if he just had his first opdivo infusion today, it may be worth getting the shot asap, before his immune system has fully responded to the treatment.
- - September 13, 2019 at 12:11 pm
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  marta010
  Participant
  Hi – my husband is currently on Keytruda and gets the flu shot every year. In addition, he also gets the pneumococcal vaccine every other year. Surprisingly, I can count on one hand the number of times he’s been sick with something other than melanoma throughout the past 7+ years!
  Ann
- - September 13, 2019 at 10:36 pm
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  guynamedbilly
  Participant
  I had it two years ago while on Nivo, skipped last year, and plan on getting it this year. I didn’t have any problems with it and my Oncologist recommended doing it.
- - September 14, 2019 at 6:21 am
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  MelMel
  Participant
  I’ve been a hygienist for almost 20 years and never had my flu shot however at my melanoma diagnosis appointment I received my flu shot. Two weeks later I started combo immunotheraphy. No problems and no flu.
  Melanie
- - September 14, 2019 at 9:31 am
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  Affected
  Participant
  Hi Jewel,
  
  Thank you very much for posting. My husband will hopefully begin Opdivo soon. We were having problems with our private insurance company approving nivo for adjuvant therapy, but I think our oncologist may have been able to get him onto the public system as we received notification of our second appointment with him for next Wednesday.
  
  I am preparing a list of questions in regard to Opdivo, and therefore your post could not have come at a better time. One other question I will be asking our oncologist is whether my husband should also be taking a Vitamin D supplement. Bubbles (Celeste)’s posts brought this to my attention, and I feel it is a very important point to consider in my husband’s treatment.
  
  Again Jewel, thank you very much for your question to this forum and all of you who answered.
  
  Affected
- - September 14, 2019 at 6:15 pm
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  MelanomaMike
  Participant
  Hi Jewel, like a lot of our peeps already said, i learned its ok for the Flu Shot while on Opdivo or Keytruda not sure of other therapies, i did my yearly flu shots no problem! Its that other shot which slips my mind that is frowned apon, something for Flu and or another seasonal illness (forgot name) but my oncologist said No on it and instructed all nurses not to give it to me in my file/computer….wish i knew the name, i remember it had Letters in the name i believe…