OncosphereGeneral medical topics
Telegraphic primers for patients and clinicians. Educational only — not medical advice; see disclaimer.
Subtopics
- Vaccination during chemotherapy · Febrile neutropenia at home · Onco-cardiology basics · CMCHIS / PM-JAY cancer coverage
Vaccination during chemotherapy
- Inactivated vaccines (influenza, COVID-19, pneumococcal) — generally safe; ideally ≥2 weeks before chemo or between cycles.
- Live vaccines (MMR, varicella, oral typhoid) — avoid during chemo and for months after.
- Household contacts should be vaccinated. IDSA guideline
Febrile neutropenia at home
- Fever ≥38.3 °C once, or ≥38.0 °C for 1 h, with ANC <500 → emergency until proven otherwise.
- Low-risk (MASCC ≥21) adults may get oral antibiotics as outpatients after assessment.
- Keep a thermometer, the oncology helpline number, and go to hospital without delay. ASCO/IDSA
Onco-cardiology basics
- Anthracyclines, trastuzumab, ICIs (myocarditis), fluoropyrimidines (vasospasm), TKIs (hypertension, QT).
- Baseline ECG/echo for at-risk drugs; control BP, lipids, diabetes. ESC 2022 cardio-oncology