Change of terminology - but the advice remains the same

[everydayupsanddowns]

Just in case it confuses anyone I thought I would flag up the new terminology that the government are now using for the most highly ‘vulnerable’ group.

People with diabetes remain in the ‘at increased risk’ group, strongly advised to be especially stringent with social distancing.

The more significantly vulnerable group (those in chemo, immunosuppressants, with leukaemia etc) - who should all have had letters by now, or if not, be checking with their GP - are now being termed ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ and being instructed to fully self-isolate.

I think the difference between ‘at increased risk’ and ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ is hoping to clear up some of the confusion.

Updated page here:

COVID-19: guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk

Guidance for people aged 12 and over whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness if they become infected with COVID-19.

www.gov.uk

 

[Hepato-pancreato]

Thanks Mike. I'm sort of inbetween both really. With my cancers finished radiotherapy, not allowed chemo. After 2 operations on my liver cancer, which is in limbo now. Got a phone appt, with oncologist on tuesday. just have to get this covid -19 sorted then they can sort out my liver cancer. Not my covid-19 by the way. The situation of lockdown a vaccine i meant.

 

[grovesy]

Thanks Mike. I'm sort of inbetween both really. With my cancers finished radiotherapy, not allowed chemo. After 2 operations on my liver cancer, which is in limbo now. Got a phone appt, with oncologist on tuesday. just have to get this covid -19 sorted then they can sort out my liver cancer. Not my covid-19 by the way. The situation of lockdown a vaccine i meant.

Matt Hancock thinks whether I believe him or not, is that Cancer Treatments are still going on. Though i have read and heard that is not so and many gave not had conversations with their teams .

 

[trophywench]

Weeell, there's cancer and there's cancer, and it depends what sort it is, where it is and what stage your one has got to (it's Gleason score) as to whether you desperately need treatment right now, or not. Main difficulty with shedloads of cancer treatments is, they affect our immune systems.

OTOH if you suddenly presented with a cancer that could kill you overnight that could be operated on later today I daresay they'd ask the appropriate surgeon to operate instead of assisting on ICU this afternoon. For eg. those halfway through a treatment, individual assessments of every one has had to be made to assess what is best and safe for that person in their own circumstances - so yes, cancer treatment is continuing. No urgent treatment for anyone is being ignored, so even though they haven't laid it down in stone and fully publicised what they're doing in each and every possible circumstance - they never have and never can - can they?

 

[Hepato-pancreato]

Problem is it might not be urgent now. Two or three months down the line might be a different story. Thats why they always say the sooner you catch the cancer the better your chances. Problem with saying theres cancer and theres cancer. Same as there is the serious diabetes and not so serious diabetes as most of the public percieve. The lady with pancreatic cancer who said she would sooner have breast cancer soon found out to her cost. The public turned on her.

 

[Hepato-pancreato]

Anyway i would sooner die from my co-morbidities or Cancers base of tongue (neuroendocrine tumour) & Liver cancer. Than this covid-19.

 

[trophywench]

Yeah - so would I even though we all know it's going to happen one day, BUT …… just too much info been and being rammed at us about the suffering with 'this lot' for my preference, thanks. Difficult to shove it very firmly right to the furthest recess at the back of the mind where it belongs and keep it there.

 

[trophywench]

PS I like your attitude, but of course I don't like that you have the other baggage.

 

[Hepato-pancreato]

Thanks for that. I had hepatitis c for 32 years. 20 years ago i did interferon injections along with ribivarin tablets. Did that for 6 months unfortunately didn't work. Then 4 years ago i was one of the first in a group who had cirrohsis to be given the new treatment. Anti-viral drugs a combination of 4 different tablets . Did that for 3 months and bingo it worked hepatitis c negative. I just hope the scientists that have cured thousands of hep c patients now can come up with a solution for this miley cyrus (coronovirus).