Souvenirs from my Cancer ‘Adventure’ – Sometimes the Rules are Different.

“But you look fine.” And I’m glad that I look fine, truly glad, because quite frankly, I worked darn hard to get there.

But looks can be deceiving.  And in this time of COVID, I’m coming up against the harsh dichotomy of my reality and my outward appearance.

Even with full COVID vaccination, for which I’m grateful, I have been told by my Care Team “be vaccinated but act unvaccinated.”  Why?  They are finding that some blood cancer patients and survivors as well as other immunocompromised populations are showing significantly reduced response to the vaccine than the rest of the population.

It’s like the world got a “Get Out of Jail Free” card and I got one too.  But I have strong recommendations to not play the card yet, so I’m still here, in my box.

Some think I’m paranoid.  Some question my judgement.  Some think I’m attention seeking.

Nothing could be further from the truth.  I fervently wish to just be me again.  As I said at the beginning of the Adventure, I don’t want to be Cancer Jan, I want to be Jan.  But for now, that’s not an option, yet.

But as during the Adventure, all we can do is Onward. So, Onward!

For more information on COVID Vaccines and blood cancer/immunocompromised patients:

·         Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: COVID-19 Vaccines FAQ for Patients and Caregivers   
https://www.lls.org/who-we-are/covid-19-vaccines-faq-patients-and-caregivers  

·         New York Times: Should People with Immune Problems Get Third Vaccine Doses?
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/04/health/coronavirus-immunity-vaccines.html

·         National Institute of Health: COVID-19 Vaccine Responses to be Studied in People with Immune Deficits
 https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/covid-19-vaccine-responses-be-studied-people-immune-deficits