Australia Day 2017, when I was recognised with an Order of Australia award, was a bitter-sweet moment, as the day before I had received my first dose of chemotherapy for potentially curable Hodgkins lymphoma. After eight months off work, I too became a 'cancer survivor'. My treatment team didnt talk to me about vaccinations, and I suspect you may be in the same situation. In 2020 my nephew, a general practitioner, called me and said I needed to be vaccinated for shingles, pneumonia, and whooping cough, especially because of my previous cancer treatment. I started doing my own research to help me and my own patients. In Cancer and Vaccinations: Taking Control, learn: Which vaccines to have before or after your cancer treatment. What vaccines to avoid during your cancer treatment. How to reduce your chances of an unwanted infection. The common and uncommon complications after vaccination. How to avoid lymphoedema after a vaccination. All about the COVID-19 vaccines in the context of previous cancer. The risk of rare blood clots or heart inflammation after COVID-19 vaccination. How to reduce the risk of shingles, pneumonia, and whooping cough.
Professor John Boyages, AM MD PhD, is Professor of Breast Oncology and Director of the Macquarie University Cancer Institute. He is a busy clinician and a radiation oncologist with over 30 years' experience in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and DCIS. Following his studies at the University of Sydney and Harvard Medical School, John published over 135 clinical research articles and treated thousands of breast cancer survivors. He writes and lectures about DCIS to lay and professional audiences.
"John Boyages has written a must-read book for patients with cancer wanting the latest advice about vaccinations before and after treatment. His book Cancer and Vaccination: Taking Control is easy to read, yet contains well-researched information about COVID-19, influenza, shingles, and other vaccines. This is an excellent resource not only for patients and their families, but also for general practitioners, nurses, and oncologists." -- Professor Peter Collignon AM, Infectious Diseases Physician and Microbiologist, Canberra Hospital Professor, Medical School. Australian National University
"Completing anti-cancer therapy is not the end, but rather a beginning. It marks the commencement of life as a cancer survivor, which is a privileged and fantastic position, but a situation whereby medical care is often more complex. Although preventative medical care post-cancer therapy is important, it is often not given the importance that it deserves. John Boyages has addressed this breach by writing a comprehensive and practical guide to vaccination post-cancer therapy. Vaccination is amongst the most effective tools in modern medicine, and it is vitally important that this aspect of preventative medical care is not overlooked in cancer survivors. I commend this guide to cancer survivors, carers, and health professionals alike." -- Dr Ian Irving, Clinical Haematologist and Group Medical Director, Icon Cancer Centre
"In line with his other excellent books, John has done it again. Cancer and Vaccinations: Taking Control is an insightful, timely, well referenced, excellent review of the current vaccine-related issues facing our patients today. It is a clear, easy-to-read, practical guide to empowering patients and their carers to make appropriate, safe, and evidence-based decisions. Well done. Thank you!" -- A/Prof Gavin Marx, Medical Oncologist, Northern Haematology Oncology Group, Director SAN Clinical Trials Unit and Clinical Director SAN Integrated Cancer Centre, Sydney Adventist Hospital
"As someone who was very reluctant to be vaccinated, this book answered many of my questions and allayed many of my concerns. John has been my oncologist since I was diagnosed with breast cancer ten years ago. During the intervening time I have felt empowered as he has listened to me and helped me to make informed choices that I faced in the medical treatment minefield. I know I can trust the information John has given in this book as I continue to make choices regarding my health. If you cant make an appointment to see him, reading this book this is the next best alternative." -- Sue Hume
