People with cancer are at higher risk for complications from both the H1N1 flu and seasonal flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Talk to your doctor before you or your family gets the flu about how you should manage it.  Your oncologist may want you to stay home and not come into the office if you have symptoms or may want to see you when other patients aren’t in the office.

You may also want to avoid emergency rooms when there is a lot of flu in your community.  Discuss how you should handle non-flu medical emergencies or complications from your cancer treatment during the flu season to avoid contact with flu patients.  Your doctor may advise you to call first before going to the hospital or an emergency room.

The CDC has recommendations for what to do if you get sick with the flu. Read the rest of this entry »