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Covid-19 and leukemia

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The New York Times has an article today about this study which says that people with "leukemia and lymphoma" have a higher risk of death if they contract Covid-19. Any thoughts on this? I'm going to share it with my oncologist but interested in your take.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/media2.fairhealth.org/whitepaper/asset/Risk%20F...

 

 

 

The advice is the same in the UK however those who have a good response to TKI (as they don’t suppress the immune system) are considered the same as the general population. I believe there are over 100 types of Leukaemia and CML has been bunched up in that.

That said I and many don’t want to catch it and should do all they can to avoid it. It is a fine balance between your health and mental health. I am careful for sure but not over the top.

Alex

I agree with Alex.  In discussion with my consultant, the distinct impression I have is that unless your CML is such that your immune system is compromised (which is not likely if you are successfully being treated with a TKI or in treatment free remission like me), your risk is the same as the general population.  I can understand why leukaemia and lymphoma per se are listed but I expect that means in practice patients who have compromised immunity as a result of their disease.  

Like Alex I am cautious but as far as I am concerned, no more frankly than I would be otherwise.  I keep my distance, wear a mask inside public places and wash my hands regularly.  It's completely understandable for others to take a more careful and protective approach if they feel more comfortable with that.

Richard

Thanks Alex and Richard for your comments. I wondered about that and am reassured but of course will still be cautious.

Hi All,

I have posted on this before. Those of us on tki s might actually be well protected by the effects of in particular imatinib and dasatinib as being what I call protectors against the invasion of the virus into our respiratory systems .There are a number of trials going on at the moment using imatinib in particular with Covid patients;Imatinib is being repurposed  and off label to be used in intravenous form to treat Covid intensive care patients.In lab studies suggested that imatinib might be an extremely effective prophylactic to prevent the ingress of the virus into the respiratory tract. Imatinib might be very useful to give to healthcare workers but how do we trial it.For us CML ers how do we know if it is protecting us?

In the meantime let us take all the precautions.

Best wishes

John

 

Thanks John, that is really interesting! I look forward to learning more about these trials as they progress -- as I'm sure we all do! Wouldn't that be a nice surprise, unexpected benefit to our condition.