H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) and Colon Cancer
At first glance, it would appear that H1N1 flu, previously called swine flu, has nothing to do with colon cancer, or any other type of cancer. But if you dig a little deeper, the connection becomes more obvious: For people in active cancer treatment, the suppressed immune system that can accompany these medical therapies leads to a higher than average risk of infection with swine flu -- and, for that matter, all infectious diseases.
If you haven�t noticed the buzz around H1N1 influenza (swine flu), you�re probably not reading, listening to, or watching much news. But despite the dire warnings you may have heard about swine flu, there are some very practical, simple steps you can take to limit your risk of getting it, none of which involve panicking or locking yourself behind closed doors.
Keeping H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) In Perspective
It may help to ease your fear to know that at this point in time, the death rate from H1N1 (swine) flu appears to be no higher than, and possibly may be lower than, a typical seasonal flu. Also keep in mind that in a typical flu season, between 30,000 and 50,000 people die from influenza infection. According to a World Health Organization estimate, at approximately 3 months, or one-quarter of a year into the swine flu pandemic (outbreak), 170 people have died from this infection in the U.S. This may surprise you given the talk of how �deadly� H1N1 flu is at this point.
An additional factor that should reassure you is that there are two anti-viral medications that are effective against swine (H1N1). The U.S. government, and many other governments around the world have stockpiles of these medications ready, should the pandemic continue to worsen.
Remember too, that we have supportive medical care that simply was not available in years past. We can communicate and coordinate a response to a flu outbreak more easily as well. The same factors that spread fear about the swine flu also can spread helpful information about the best ways to keep yourself healthy and limit the likelihood that you come into contact with swine flu.
Protect Yourself From Swine Flu
The swine flu, and any other infection for that matter, do pose special challenges for those with compromised immune systems, including people in active cancer treatment. In these cases, the flu can cause more serious illness and may be more difficult to recover from. Regardless of this, there are many easy steps you can take to limit the chances that you catch this bug.
Steps to Avoid Swine Flu if You�re Immune-Compromised:
- If you are scheduled to go to a clinic or hospital for cancer treatment, contact your health care provider in advance. Ask if they recommend any special precautions for immune-compromised people, such as wearing a surgical mask to your appointment or coming into the building through a less-frequently-used entrance.
- If you know your immunity is compromised, as indicated by low blood counts for example, follow the same precautions you�ve been given by your doctor to limit risk of all infections. This may include avoiding going out as much as possible, avoiding large crowds, and limiting travel.
- If you don't have anyone to help with grocery shopping or other tasks that require going out, contact a social worker at your cancer clinic. This person can put you in touch with community programs that offer assistance with day-to-day needs.
- If you think you have the flu, call your doctor immediately. If more than two days (48 hours) have passed since infection, anti-flu medications likely will not help.
Take a vitamin D supplement. Low vitamin D levels in the body appears to make people more susceptible to infections. Some research suggests that vitamin D deficiency contributes to the spread of flu. Ask your doctor if it's OK to take vitamin D.
Steps We All Should Take to Avoid Swine Flu
- Wash your hands as often as you can. Use soap (regular is fine; there is no need for antibacterial), plenty of warm water, and wash for at least 20 seconds. Many infection-control specialists suggest singing the Happy Birthday song twice to estimate what 20 seconds is.
- Wash your hands thoroughly. Focus on areas you may normally miss, such as under and around your nails, and the backs of your hands.
- Keep alcohol-based hand sanitizer handy. You can pick up a few travel-size bottles for a dollar or less each, and stash them in your car, purse, brief case, and jacket pockets. Always wash your hands when you can, but if a sink isn�t available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends alcohol-based sanitizers.
- Never touch your mouth, nose, and eyes, unless you've just washed your hands. We all touch our faces constantly, often without realizing it. We lean into our palms, we scratch our noses and eyes and hardly notice. Try to pay better attention to this and avoid touching your face to limit infection risk.
- As with people who are immune compromised, people with healthy immunity should contact their doctor immediately if they think they have the flu. This allows access to anti-viral medications that are effective only if taken within 48 hours of initial infection.
- Take a vitamin D supplement. Cancer patients aren�t the only ones who can benefit from more D. Many people don�t get enough of this nutrient for good health and strong immune function. Ask your doctor if it's OK to take vitamin D.
Take Home Message About Swine Flu
The emergence of a new, possibly highly infectious, and more virulent type of flu is serious. We should never ignore public health warnings, but we shouldn�t panic either. What we should do is take common sense precautions to avoid infection and get our information from reputable sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu). Accessed July 29, 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
World Health Organization. Global Alert and Response (GAR). Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 58. Accessed July 29, 2009. http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_07_06/en/index.html
