question about chemo

I just had a slightly confused Skype conversation with my mother.

Apparently she was told that she cannot stay with her friend because her friend has a dog and 1) can cause infections during chemo (???) and 2) Italian law stipulates that public health services (nurses etc) can't go into residences that have dogs.

Has anyone ever even heard of any such thing or is there any shred of logic in it?

Instead, they've suggested what I suppose is the equivalent of a hospice within the hospital or a private clinic. My mother wants me to check both out when i'm there. I'm gutted at the thought of her in a "home" or "hospice" but I realize that's my failure to accept reality. She says she wants medical personnel around her at all times.

With chemo treatments, do you technically need to be surrounded every day by medical personnel? Tehy were talking about a course that is one day chemo 3 weeks off.

David,

I am guessing that her doctors (and Italian law) are afraid that the chemo will surpress her immune system, making her susceptible to infection that could be carried by dogs.  Chemo does supress the immune system, how bad it can be depends on the individual and the chemo.

David,
Chemotherapy can depress the immune system of the patient and make the person prone to infections. Your mother seems to be going into a q21 chemotherapy protocol. This is a chemo infusion treatment every 21 days. During the first 7 to 14 days after the infusion the patient can be immunosuppressed or even neutropenic (low level of white blood cells called neutrophils). These neutrophils protect us against infections and if the patient’s count is low she can be at risk of infection.

Chemotherapy patients should avoid contact with a high number of people to avoid potential infections. In your case, it seems that Italian law restrict the presence of animals when a patient is treated with chemo and health services are required.

This is a precaution that prevents you Mom to stay with her friend, but it is probably reasonable to avoid infections during treatment and probably she will get better medical care.

Wish you and your Mom the best results from treatment. Do not feel guilty. You are doing all you can for her. Stay positive. She needs you to be!

RalphV

Davidg, all of the answers you are getting appear to be spot on about infections and potentials.

My own experience with my wife was very similar. Before we departed for Houston and my wife's stem cell transplant, we had to place our cat of 12 years in another home. There was too much danger of infections.

We also had a dog at the time, but he was the type that had no dander or shedding issues and was deemed okay.

For the next 4 years she was on and off various drugs and constantly being tested for white blood cell count and she indeed had a suppressed immune system. Had 3 hospitalizations for pneumonia and one eight week stay in ICU for swine flu and other complications. That one was the type that most people with healthy immune systems were able to fight off as only a bad case of the flu.

With all of that being said, I would err on the extreme side of caution with your mom. Best of luck to you and your mom in the days ahead. Keep us posted.

Sonny