When you have cancer: Keeping infections at bay

When you have been diagnosed with cancer your next step is chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and these can bring your immune system down to nothing. This will make it very easy for you to catch any infections, viruses, cold, flu and much more. Fact is, that is the most fatal and common complication cancer patients have. White blood cells are made of bone marrow and usually help fight infection. But a lot of chemotherapy drugs can affect the bone marrow, and radiation lowers the resistance to fight any diseases. Surgeries and invasive procedures usually has issues with germ risks. You put all this together and it makes a plate for disaster. You become prone to illnesses like colds, flu and pneumonia, and infections such as shingles to sexually transmitted diseases. You have to be more alert for signs of infections like, fever, sweating, chills, cough, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes or diarrhea and much more. It is highly advisable to get a flu shot, wash your hands frequently, stay away from large crowds that you see people that are sick, keep an eye on your injuries, make sure all dairy products are pasteurized, and avoid uncooked meat. These common steps to follow was also stated on lifesteps.com to help keep infections at bay especially cancer victims.

My emotions regarding this article that was discovered on koamtv.com haven’t changed nor do I think they will in my life time. When someone states cancer I listen, and read, or listen period, to be able to respond on a paper of how I feel regarding this really helps on bad days.

In the year 2005 both my parents were diagnosed with cancer, dad was diagnosed in February and mom was diagnosed in November. Reading this article reminds me of things I can’t forget, nor that I am alone in this battle. Washing your hands is common sense for anyone whether they have cancer or not, people need to follow that advice more often than not.

I lost mom only five months after her being diagnosed with Multiple Lymphoma, the fight was short but horrible for a 58 year young woman. She was a strong person and taught me a lot over the years, but she taught me more in the last five months of her short lived life. To care, family comes before all else, and to never, never lose faith. Mom stated the night we were told her diagnosis that I above anyone that she knows has enough faith and strength if she was to make it, it will be with me helping her. My strength weekend and my faith for a period was in the same state. Over a period of time, I realized God wanted mom and so she went home and awaits for dad patiently. My father is still with me, and his cancer was in remission until this year. It has decided to cause him more pain and myself pain as well. I am dad’s care taker and was mom’s for the period I had her. Dad has multiple myeloma, bone cancer, when we found out about his cancer, most every bone in his body was broke. The doctor wouldn’t tell me at the time until about a year ago, that he didn’t expect dad to live but a few weeks. He actually informed me that he was surprised we lost mom before we lost dad and that he was really shocked that I wasn’t an orphan yet. I informed the doctor that the good Lord has a plan for dad and I am grateful each day that he hasn’t found whatever it is. As for dad and I? Well when we decided to have him become part of our family, dad and I made a pact that we live day by day and nothing else. This decision was the best way I could repay him for all he has done for me over the years, besides I made mommy a promise minutes before she left me, that I would never ever leave dad and he would not go through anything alone, he will never go to a old folks home, nor will he be alone period that it was ok to go to heaven and that someday I only hope to be able to be there with her.