Should People Diagnosed with Cancer Be Vaccinated?

Having cancer patients vaccinated against possible infections under a doctor’s supervision helps prevent complications that can cause serious consequences for the patient.

The immune system protects our body against structures such as bacteria and viruses that cause infections by producing antibodies. However, the body perceives structures such as antigens produced by cancer as its own antigens; therefore, the immune system does not become active for protective purposes. Another reason why the body’s defense mechanism does not respond to cancer is the immune-suppressing factors secreted by the tumor around itself. In this situation, the defense mechanism weakens and is unable to adequately prevent the cancer from spreading. The weakening of the immune system caused both by the cancer itself and by cancer treatment makes the patient susceptible to infections.

Some of the most common infections experienced by cancer patients during and after treatment develop as a result of the common cold. If you are a cancer patient who has recovered after treatment or is still undergoing treatment, there may be a risk of developing certain complications related to seasonal colds or influenza infections. Unfortunately, these complications can lead to serious consequences for the patient, including death.

Therefore, vaccination is recommended to protect people who have recovered after cancer treatment or are still undergoing treatment from illnesses such as seasonal colds, influenza infections, and swine flu. In addition, it is known that the type of bacteria known as pneumococcus, which causes serious infectious diseases in different parts of the body, can cause pneumonia in people over 65 years of age and can lead to other serious infections such as meningitis and middle ear infection. For this reason, the pneumococcal vaccine is also recommended for cancer patients over 65 years of age to protect against such infections.

However, the recommendation of the specialist doctor who regularly monitors and/or treats you is important for this vaccination. The best course of action is to follow the advice of your doctor, who closely monitors your condition. If you suspect cold symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, postnasal drip, headache, chills, weakness, pain, or aches, consult your doctor without delay. If your doctor considers it appropriate, they will treat you by prescribing antiviral medications.

As with the possible side effects caused by cancer, it is also possible to take precautions against potential infections. All information obtained from specialist doctors in this field will help cancer patients become more informed. In this way, the patient can be prevented from experiencing certain potentially distressing consequences.