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Teacher here!

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Teacher here!

  • Post
    • July 9, 2020 at 6:00 pm
    F-melanoma
    Participant
      My district is returning to face-to-face instruction in September. I asked my nurse practitioner if there were additional precautions I should take as I am currently on Opdivo as well as low dose prednisone daily. She advised the same precautions as our health department suggests. I’m a bit anxious to say the least. I’m 52 years old and will be in contact with many students daily as I am a specialist teacher. Any thoughts? TIA
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    • Replies
        • July 9, 2020 at 8:45 pm
        tedtell1
        Participant
          Hi Mary;
          I am also a teacher, we are still waiting guidance as to whether we are going back to face to face (MN) but it will likely happen. I am not currently on any treatment, but after being treated with Opdivo and having done courses of steroids, I am kind of vulnerable. I am a teacher in a self contained classroom (6-9 kids) at the high school level. Many of my students will not keep a mask on, so….what to do. I am probably going to wear a shield and a mask, but we will see. I will be following this discussion with interest!
          Thanks for being a teacher, underpaid, overworked and underappreciated!
          Ted
            • July 9, 2020 at 9:30 pm
            F-melanoma
            Participant
              Thank you for responding, Ted! UW Health (I’m in WI) has a prototype mask/shield combo that I think would work great for teachers. It’s being tested and I’m not sure when or if it will be made available to purchase. https://www.facebook.com/56887600728/posts/10158339149945729/

              I’m just so anxious as I need my job for the health insurance so I can’t just work anywhere. I’ve been teaching for 30 years. I didn’t work so hard fending off cancer only to be killed by Co-vid.

              • July 10, 2020 at 8:28 pm
              tkoss
              Participant
                all my enquires with med pros including AIM folks is that there is no definitive conclusion as to affects of nivo on covid, other than the logical thinking is that it would initiate a cytocine storm.
                • July 11, 2020 at 11:31 am
                tkoss
                Participant
                  i googled cytokine storm and covid and got a bunch of articles outling the problem. none particularly scientific. but as i explain to others as it was explained to me: in early days covid was thought to be upper respiratory problem and so aggravated immune system to an over-reaction. Combine that with Nivo and you get a double whammy, aka cytokine storm. Again this is back of the envelope medicine from my docs.

                  now it seems covid is more about clotting/not clotting. i have no idea how that changes things regarding Nivo. i would love to know, because even though i am NED after 6 months of Nivo, i have 6 more months of infusion. If someone knew that nivo does not enhance covid, it would change the next 6 months of my life.

                  • July 28, 2020 at 10:28 pm
                  F-melanoma
                  Participant
                    Hi Ted!
                    My melanoma specialist is recommending I teach remotely. I sent his email on to admin and am waiting for a response.
                  • July 13, 2020 at 3:42 am
                  AshleyS
                  Participant
                    I completed treatment (Opdivo after Ipi/Nivo) 2.5 years ago. My doc at MD Anderson says I should assume I’m at risk (scars on the lungs). I’m a K-12 instructional coach in North Dakota. I literally am in every classroom in our rural district, so I can be exposed to 700 people in a given day. My husband is also a teacher and I have 2 elementary-aged kiddos. Although we are a small state, our numbers are on the rise; yet, I think we will be back in school. Many folks in my state feel masks are an infringement on their liberties. I’m super nervous about going back. Hugs to all of you in a similar position.

                    Ashley

                    • July 14, 2020 at 2:45 am
                    JudiAU
                    Participant
                      LAUSD announced that they were online this fall and I can’t tell you how relieved I am. And I don’t even have to be the bad guy keeping them home for my health.

                      My youngest son goes to a charter school and I’m still waiting to hear from them. But most of the teachers are young and healthy. I think only one older admin will need to stay home.

                      Have you all spoken to your unions to see if you can find an online option.

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