Unfortunately, due to a compromised immune system many Lymphoma patients, HD or NHL, get Shingles. It is a common occurrence. While anyone who has had chicken pox can contract shingles, a compromised immune system greatly increases the chances of getting it. As a result, shingles outbreaks are very common in Lymphoma patients both during and after treatment, sometimes years after treatments are over.
I called my oncologist and explained to him, that I had a rash on my back, and my side, and I was fearful that it was Lymphoma of the skin, but to my surprise he said, “ are there blisters?” I said, that there was and they had this fluid inside of them. I was told it was Shingles. But, when I told him that I never had chicken pox he started laughing saying, “ that is what everyone says.”
For me, I wasn’t even aware I had chicken pox, so either it was a very mild case or I was very young. However, the severity of the Shingles are not. I was not aware of what the rash was at first. By the time, it was discovered I had indeed, had Shingles and the antibiotic, Valtrex, didn’t help much for it was started too late. The blisters was very bad and had spread a lot. Because of my lowered immune system, I developed Shingles 2 years ago in October and have so far, battled them, 3 times. Each time worse than the time before.
For me, it came 3 years after my last chemo treatments in 2005. It came at a time when I also, got the flu shot. Shingles is a virus which lives in the base of the spine and something, triggers it to activate. It affects the nerves and travels, on a nerve. Shingles are not contagious but the fluid inside of the blister is. That is a chicken pox virus. Shingles will follow the path in which you had chicken pox or where you had it at, which can be anywhere, your face, back, chest, or sides.
There is a vaccine for Shingles, and I would take it if I could, but anyone diagnosed with Lymphoma, cannot. It can actually give those with ever a diagnose of Lymphoma, Shingles. It is a live vaccine.
The symptoms of Shingles are sometimes, a general feeling of fatigue and not feeling well, a rash which starts to display small fluid-filled blisters. They are very painful and feel like pins and needles piecing your skin. Once the blisters are healed it is still not over, for the skin is very sensitive to even clothing, and everything and anything hurts it. It is no wonder that Shingles can lead to depression for it is relentless.
The chicken pox in the blisters is very contagious and very harmful to an unborn child so being around a pregnant woman or, someone with a lowered immunity system or on chemotherapy is not wise. Shingles is very unpleasant, very painful, and who wants to spread that around.