A Man's TikTok Message
- Jason Arena, whose TikTok handle is @speakthetruth101, is going viral on social media through a video he posted on the app as he shares a passionate message about vaccinations and COVID-19.
- Arena’s wife is currently battling stage 4 breast cancer, and was discharged from the hospital prematurely because it was overfilled with COVID-19 cases.
- There are ways cancer patients can stay safe during the pandemic, including getting vaccinated, social distancing and wearing masks.
Jason Arena, whose TikTok handle is @speakthetruth101, is going viral on social media through a video he posted on the app as he shares a passionate message about vaccinations and COVID-19. According to Arena, he was taking his wife to the hospital since she was feeling symptoms of her stage 4 breast cancer and needed to get some fluid drained to ease some pain she was experiencing. She was admitted to the hospital for two days, but on the third day was told they wouldn’t be able to drain the fluid and would have to discharge her because there was no room left in the hospital due to COVID-19.
Read More@speakthetruth101#TeamofTomorrow #covid #vaccine #antivaccine #hypocrisy #foryou #bullshit♬ original sound – Jason Arena
Stage 4 Breast Cancer: Overview
Stage 4 breast cancer, also called advanced or metastatic, is when the disease has spread to other parts of the body and is no longer localized to the chest. Ultimately, there is no "cure" for advanced breast cancer, but thanks to decades of research, there are still a number of treatment options available to women to keep the cancer maintained. While consulting your doctor, options may include hormone therapy, chemotherapy and targeted drugs. For some patients, surgery or radiation may be considered. Clinical trials are also a good option for women facing advanced/metastatic breast cancer, which features new and exciting research being developed by experts.
Related: The FDA Just Approved a Promising New Drug for Metastatic Breast Cancer
"Technically metastatic breast cancer is not curable, but it is highly, highly treatable, especially depending on the type of disease that a woman can have," Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, tells SurvivorNet. "So the first step with someone with stage four breast cancer is to try to figure out where is the metastatic breast cancer, meaning where did the breast cancer spread because that's what defines stage four breast cancer."
Dr. Connie Lehman explains when women should start getting mammograms
How Cancer Patients Can Stay Safe During COVID-19
The number of cases involving the COVID-19 delta variant is on the rise in the United States, which is continuing to put cancer patients at risk. However, there are still ways those going through cancer treatment can stay safe and try to avoid being exposed to the virus. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved a booster shot for the immunocompromised as a way to help protect them from COVID-19 and the delta variant. The booster should be administered 28 days or more after the second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, and no prescription or ID is required to get the booster shot.
Related: Can Cancer Patients Get a Covid-19 Vaccine Booster Shot?
Studies have shown that the COVID-19 vaccine has been found less effective in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. This is especially true in blood cancer patients. The studies show that cancer patients have fewer antibodies than individuals who are not immunosuppressed when they first receive the vaccine, and after their second dose. Therefore, this booster shot would greatly benefit cancer patients in further protecting them.
Other ways cancer patients can stay safe from COVID-19 and the delta variant is to continue following guidelines implemented a year ago. This includes wearing masks when out in public, social distancing as much as possible, and regularly washing your hands in order to keep your immune system strong.
Dr. Brieze Keeley Bell breaks down what cancer patients need to know about COVID-19
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