Hi sorry to hear about your sister – I never got an infection whilst on chemo – which was lucky as I have very little kidneys left – but I did not go to work for the first 5 months of chemo (shock mainly and I work in a large open plan office with lots of germs). I guess now she’s had one this is the time to re-evaluate how best to avoid infections. Large crowds eg shopping, cinema, pubs, how is the work environment? This is not to say live like a hermit but minimise risks – when we went to the cinema we either went VIP (in small box) or chose early, less crowded performance – shopping – take the hassle out of it and start online – ensure you avoid anyone with colds etc until they are germ free – early evening meals out etc. Possible adjustments in the workplace – my work didn’t actually want me in as it was the winter period and everyone comes in with colds etc and our sick rate is 7 times higher than the national average! and as we all work in pods of 4 it would have been inevitable for me to catch stuff so I just avoided it. At work at the moment there is still a continuous cycle of chest infections and colds so guess there is still a lot of things going around – soon be spring/summer and the ability to enjoy the outdoors which seems much less fraught. Hang on in there it will all come good in the end.
Rebecca
