For most people, the best treatment for H1N1 (swine flu) is probably what your grandmother would recommend. Rest and fluids. But for those living with cancer, breathing difficulties and side effects of chemotherapy such as bone marrow suppression, can make the infection riskier. If you develop symptoms suggestive of the H1N1 flu with cancer, check with your doctor as soon as possible to see if she thinks a medication would be helpful.
H1N1 (Swine Flu) Treatment – Supportive Care
The mainstay of treatment for the H1N1 flu is supportive care – taking care of your body while it heals itself. It is easy to say, but taking time to pamper yourself until you feel better, can go a long way in preventing more serious complications of the flu. Try to:- Drink plenty of fluids. Keep a glass of water handy when you are resting. Filling a pitcher with water in the fridge can be a reminder if you aren’t drinking enough.
- Get enough rest. Daytime naps can be helpful if flu symptoms interfere with your sleep at night.
- A bowl of chicken soup might be just what the doctor ordered.
- Stay home. People are being told to stay home to prevent spreading the flu, but it also gives you more opportunity to care for yourself.
H1N1 (Swine Flu) Treatment – Medications for H1N1 Flu
Two medications are currently available to treat the H1N1 flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that these drugs be reserved for people who are severely ill with the swine flu, or for those people with illnesses such as cancer who are at significant risk from the infection. Since these medications are most effective if taken within 48 hours after symptoms begin, it is important to contact your doctor as soon as you believe you may have the swine flu. Neither of these medications work immediately, but they do appear to shorten the duration of the illness by a day or so. Medications include:- Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) – Oseltamivir is taken orally twice a day for 5 days. Side effects can include nausea and vomiting, and occasionally, mood changes.
- Zanamivar (Relenza) – Zanamivar is used twice a day for 5 days as an inhaled medication. Since it can cause airways to spasm, it isn’t recommended for people with lung problems such as lung cancer and asthma.
H1N1 (Swine Flu) Treatment – The Vaccine
A vaccine to prevent H1N1 flu should be available sometime in October. The seasonal flu vaccine is unlikely to have much effect on H1N1, so this vaccine will be given in addition to the seasonal vaccine. Recommendations about people who should receive the vaccine will include, among others, those people between the ages of 25 and 64 with a chronic illness such as lung cancer.
If you are undergoing chemotherapy, however, it's important to remember that those with suppressed immune systems may not actually form a comprehensive response to the H1N1 vaccine (or the seasonal flu vaccine). So, while it is still recommended that lung cancer patients get vaccinated, you should know that you may still be at risk for contracting swine flu if your treatment has affected your immune system.
H1N1 (Swine Flu) Prevention
With one-third of the world’s population estimated to get the swine flu (H1N1) by 2011, it is unlikely that prevention efforts will spare you from getting the flu altogether. That said, practicing prevention while you are going through treatment for cancer is a good idea. You may lower your risk of contracting the H1N1 flu by:- Washing your hands frequently. Hand sanitizer is also effective in decreasing spread, and can easily be carried with you.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. This may be one of the best ways to avoid the flu, but if you are like me, it takes a conscious effort to keep your hands away from your face.
- Stay away from people who have symptoms such as coughing and sneezing.
- Avoid crowds, such as busy shopping malls.
When to Call Your Doctor
Even if you are being treated for the H1N1 flu, make sure to call your doctor immediately if you develop shortness of breath, difficult or rapid breathing, gray or bluish skin, or have trouble drinking enough fluids.Sources:
American Cancer Society. Swine Flu: What Cancer Patients Need to Know. 04/30/09. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/SPC/content/SPC_1_Swine_Flu.asp
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). H1N1 Flu. Questions and Answers: Antiviral Drugs, 2009-2010 Flu Season. Updated 09/23/09. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/antiviral.htm
