The seasonal flu vaccine and cancer treatment

Latest from the Blog

Meet the specialists: diagnosing ovarian cancer Q&A

Meet the specialists: diagnosing ovarian cancer Q&A

Jan 15, 2021 |

15th January 2021 Missed our free GatewayC webinar on Diagnosing Ovarian Cancer? Watch our recording here. In this webinar, GatewayC met Professor Gordon Jayson, Professor of Medical Oncology at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, who answered key questions from our...

read more

Related Posts

Meet the specialists: diagnosing ovarian cancer Q&A

Meet the specialists: diagnosing ovarian cancer Q&A

Jan 15, 2021 |

15th January 2021 Missed our free GatewayC webinar on Diagnosing Ovarian Cancer? Watch our recording here. In this webinar, GatewayC met Professor Gordon Jayson, Professor of Medical Oncology at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, who answered key questions from our...

read more

Friday 6th November 2020

People living with cancer or undergoing cancer treatment are often immunosuppressed and at higher risk of catching the flu. After cancer treatment, a patient’s resistance to infection might be low for some months or years. It is recommended that a patient has the flu vaccine if they have had one of the following treatments:

  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiotherapy
  • Some targeted cancer drugs
  • Some immunotherapy treatments
  • Long-term steroids
  • Removal of the spleen

Alternative consideration should be given to patients who:

  • Are allergic to egg
  • Have had a reaction to a vaccine previously
  • Are children, who may normally be offered the vaccine as a nasal spray (containing a live, but weakened form of the vaccine). The vaccine injection, which does not contain live virus, may be more appropriate if a child has cancer and a very weakened immune system

To learn more, watch this video with Dr Adrian Bloor:

Find out more: 

  • Access GatewayC’s Chronic Leukaemia course for more information regarding the flu vaccine and cancer patients here
  • Leukaemia Care have answered common questions on the flu vaccine here
  • Read Cancer Research UK’s information on the flu vaccine and cancer treatment here

Follow us: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook