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Pneumonia vaccine before chemo?

Page last modified on: September 19, 2008
Question from KySandy: I started my chemo two weeks ago. It seems of all the surgeons and doctors I've been to, no one suggested a pneumonia vaccination. I was diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia just 10 days after my first treatment.
Answer —Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.: It is very much a possibility that even if you'd received the shot, you may still have had this complication. The pneumonia vaccine is effective in many patients against one type of bacterial infection. Receiving an immunization and then starting chemotherapy may lower the effectiveness of the immunization. It is not my standard practice, therefore, to recommend the pneumonia vaccine before starting chemotherapy.

On Wednesday, February 18, 2004, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Chemotherapy Updates. Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. and Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about advances in chemotherapy treatment: different types of drugs and regimens, how to reduce or eliminate unpleasant side effects, and more.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, with a a special interest in cancer survivorship, patient-physician communication, and quality of care for women with breast cancer.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.

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