Tamera Anderson-Hanna is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Addiction Professional, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and became a Registered Yoga Teacher while coping with breast cancer in 2015. She owns Wellness, Therapy, & Yoga in Florida where she provides personal wellness services and coaching and she is a public speaker on wellness-related topics.  You can connect with her at www.wellnesstherapyyoga.com.

Tamera Anderson-Hanna

There may be many things to think about or consider regarding COVID-19.

As I wrote and pondered in December, one choice for myself was following up with the opportunity to get vaccinated. I faced some negative feedback from some individuals and outside parties, but overall, I was given support to make an educated decision about receiving the vaccine.

READ MORE: Weighing The Pros and Cons of Receiving a COVID-19 Vaccine

To prepare, I met with three specialists from my medical care team and all three agreed the COVID-19 vaccine was a good fit for me. One even stated, “Get whatever version is first available to you.” I am at higher risk of COVID-19 complications not due to breast cancer, but due to asthma and by working as a first responder.

Following receipt of the vaccine, I am someone who will likely be required to go back to working unrestricted with individuals with a known or unknown COVID-19 status.

To further clarify, I was also cleared by all three of my specialists despite having allergies, which require monthly immunotherapy treatments. My immunologist stated I could receive any of the currently available vaccines. The rule of thumb — and his research suggested — is that if I have not had a negative reaction to any prior vaccinations such as the pneumonia or shingles vaccine, then I would not be expected to have an adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine. But I do encourage individuals with allergies to speak to their immunologist before getting vaccinated as a precaution.

The next step was finding access to the vaccine. I believed I would receive the vaccine as a first responder, but by mid-January nothing was being provided to myself or my coworkers. I was fortunate to begin receiving the vaccine at the Miami Cancer Institute. The staff were great, and they had everyone wait for up to 30 minutes after the injection to assess any potential concerns or a rare reaction.

I did not experience any reaction with either injection and I did not experience any muscular pain. In fact, it was the most pleasant of any vaccine I have ever been given. I would even say my allergy shots probably hurt more than the COVID-19 vaccine did.

During my second injection, the nurse explained the key to administration is to give the shot three fingers down from your shoulder into the deltoid to help avoid unnecessary soreness and difficulty moving your arm following the injection. They also did not squeeze my arm during the injection but only held the sides of my arm to prevent movement.

As a precaution, however, I asked to receive the shot in the arm I have not had lymph nodes removed from. I have since heard from at least one fellow survivor that she received one version of a vaccine in her non-dominate arm (where she had lymph nodes removed) as advised due to any potential soreness, but felt it was a mistake as it may have triggered her previous experiences with lymphedema.

I now share her experience only as something for other individuals to ask their oncologist about to avoid any potential lymphedema flare-up as maybe soreness in a dominant arm is better than triggering symptoms of a breast cancer treatment-related side effect.

I am aware of some peers who have had their second injection and who have experienced flu-like symptoms. I feel it’s just a sign the vaccine is working and would expect needing no more than a day off from work to rest and manage symptoms.

For me, my symptoms following the second Pfizer injection included mild fatigue, some mild body aches, a feeling of swelling in my armpit on the side the shot was given, and a bit of an upset stomach on the final day which was fairly short lived. My symptoms began approximately 24 hours after the second injection and ended after approximately one day.

The choice to get vaccinated is a personal one. I appreciate individuals who don’t care to receive the vaccine due to their own beliefs or concerns, but I hope such individuals respect the choice of those who do receive the vaccine. While Veklury (remdesivir) and convalescent plasma are now game changers for those who develop a severe complication due to a COVID-19 infection — and was available to one of my family members — I hope not to end up in the situation of needing such treatment or risking damage to my lungs.

I am presently NED (no evidence of disease), but for myself, I would be making the same choice to get vaccinated if undergoing treatment unless contraindicated for some reason. I am grateful to the staff of MCI, my oncologist, and my primary care physician for the opportunity to get vaccinated and their having me on a list to receive the vaccine.

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to

Articles

A cancer survivor reflects on her decision to receive a COVID-19 vaccine when it was made available to her. 

After Weighing the Pros and Cons of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine, I Decided to Get One

After cancer, is it okay to be sexy? I sure hope so, and I am now helping fellow survivors to embrace their bodies the way we are. Being a woman, and a licensed mental health professional, I have spent most of my life hearing women refer to their bodies and what they don’t like and what they think could be better. Cancer, from my experience, has amplified these feelings of dissatisfaction with their body for some of my peers but I am all about embracing our bodies pre- and post-cancer.

I can still admit I was once comparing my own body to those in magazines or trying particular workouts to look like someone or something else, but at some point, I turned my energy inward. I accepted spending time on exercise to maintain health as a goal and not to necessarily change or alter my body to look any other way. Cancer can challenge this concept of self-esteem and body image. For the majority of breast cancer survivors, like myself, there is scarring due to treatments or medical procedures where the breast tissue is removed, and our bodies may look or appear foreign to us afterward. I have felt I had two or three different sets of breasts in my lifetime thus far, but I have tried to love each one of them. The first was before cancer, the second during reconstruction with expanders, while mainly flat and the third set following reconstruction with implants.

While I healed and began to accept my cancer diagnosis is when I inadvertently began yoga teacher training. I was two weeks into training when I was told I had breast cancer. I used my time and energy to work on mind-body healing. I spent time eating healthy, getting rest, breathing for meditation and caring for my body which included using affirmations and supportive self-talk. I also did not think to myself, if only my body looked different so I embraced my body and did not hold back from experiencing feelings or acts of intimacy during my surgeries or reconstruction.

So, how am I now helping other women? I have developed a workshop in which I help women examine their self-talk and how they speak about or relate to their bodies. We explore any benefits to changing the dialogue they have with and about their body along with exploring expectations. Part of the workshop will also include exploring how and when certain feelings about their body surfaced and for some negative dialogue may have begun before cancer. I believe following a breast cancer diagnosis, we may become more aware of messages we have about our body during the cancer journey.

The agenda of the workshop includes learning about self-talk, affirmations, cognitive reframing, exploring the role of self-care and setting healthy and supportive goals that may rely upon using a treatment team for further support. Individuals may set goals to further address sexual function and healthy or supportive diet and exercise for the benefits of improving their general health. The workshop will also touch on learning how to have a healthy dialogue about sex and intimacy with oneself and feelings and goals about communicating needs. It is important to understand what is important in feeling sexy and the specific types of intimacy women are looking for in life or a relationship. The goal will be to begin by having a supportive relationship with oneself and the body we reside in to then help improve upon any other relationships we might have or be in with regard to ways those relationships impact personal intimacy.

There is nothing more empowering as a woman than to feel my own sense of self-worth and that feeling sexy for example begins with me

Even after surgery for breast cancer women can still feel empowered and own their sense of self-worth.

Embracing Our Sexy Self as Women After Surgery for Breast Cancer

In approximately 4 weeks, I will be presented with the option to take a vaccine for COVID-19. The vaccine is being offered to me since I work in a high-risk position as a first responder. It is optional for me to take the vaccine, so I need to ask myself what are the pros and cons of taking the vaccine?

Reasons I might consider taking it are to reduce the risk of having complications related to contracting COVID-19 without having any immunity to support my body and the chance of severe complications. I observed a family member contract COVID-19 and end up in the hospital, gratefully, remdesivir was available to my family member along with a plasma treatment. Their lung function was impacted, and it has been taking time for them to build back up their physical stamina and lung function following hospitalization.

Johnson & Johnson’s Single-Dose COVID-19 Vaccine a ‘Tremendous Asset’ for Patients With Cancer

Prior to getting the vaccine, one of the first things I am doing is speaking to a couple of my health-care providers regarding their thoughts about actually getting the vaccine. In their opinion, I will want to know if getting the vaccine is a recommended choice knowing my medical history with cancer. What I will be weighing with my medical team is if the benefits of taking the vaccine are better even with potential side effects than contracting the virus. I currently assume they will say take the vaccine or live with the risk of experiencing the full effects if I contract COVID-19, which according to antibody testing I still have not contracted.

What are some of the side effects? Well, what I have read thus far, the common side effects include pain at the injection site, fatigue, muscle aches or pain, joint pain, headache and depending on the vaccine is given, potential fever, which is short-lived according to the recent 

The injections appear to be given approximately one month apart. Earlier this year, I was due to receive a vaccine for pneumonia and I was encouraged to obtain a flu shot, which I have not personally taken for almost the last 10 years. I obtained both of the recommended vaccines my primary care physician suggested along with starting the vaccine for the shingles, which much like the COVID vaccine is given in two separate injections. Surprisingly, I was informed I could take all three together and my side effects included a stomach upset, loss of appetite along with a headache that lasted around 24 hours. 

The COVID-19 Pandemic Has Reminded Us All About the Importance of a Phone Call

The benefit is hopefully having fewer to no problems with pneumonia or ever getting the shingles. I would hope if getting the COVID-19 vaccine I could expect the same, but I will also ask if it is known how long potential immunity or partial immunity will last. To be honest, COVID-19 concerns me as the virus seems to impact lung function along with sometimes having other unusual symptoms that to me seem more severe than your typical flu.

Other concerns of not getting vaccinated have included being able to get proper medical care and attention while there is a demand on the healthcare system for COVID-19 treatments. Also, the potential for supportive treatments to not be available should I get COVID-19 while traveling, for example, and away from home. I would like to resume a more normal lifestyle if possible in 2021 and get back to traveling and enjoying life more fully. 

I also see and hear about providers who are getting burnt out and are themselves continually being put at risk for infection every time they need to treat a new patient. I do not want to add to that.

One of my biggest concerns when having to monitor for infection was not wanting to pass COVID-19 on to someone who might be immunocompromised and find the virus to be more harmful than it might be to myself, as I now am NED but still have a higher risk for severe complications because of my asthma. Maybe I will be able to feel better about helping to protect the community I live in if vaccinated.

Make Room For The Under-65s: What the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Has Taught Me About My 'Value'

I don’t look forward to getting ill from a vaccine, but maybe the payoff will be having fewer negative complications and helping myself to avoid having hospitalizations due to the side effects of COVID-19 as I saw my family member experience.

With the first COVID-19 vaccine authorized by the FDA, a cancer survivor weighs the pros and cons of taking a COVID-19 vaccine and what more information is needed.

Weighing The Pros and Cons of Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine

In February of 2020, my family and I made plans to travel back to my hometown for the holidays in December. This was before COVID-19, and before I would experience some of my family members contracting COVID-19. My parents and husband have contracted COVID-19, and of those three individuals, two are cancer survivors.

COVID-19 has not been a pleasant experience for my family. My husband was hospitalized, and not to invoke fear, but I truly believe if it were not for Remdesivir and plasma treatment, I am not sure he would have left the hospital without progressing to the ICU. So, making plans to minimize any further risks is important to me. Best case scenario, he will be out approximately 30 days minimum recuperating from COVID-19 after contracting it as a first responder in the work setting. The question is now, do we travel out of state, and if so, how can we do so safely for me and other family who have not yet had COVID-19 or who could, by theory, potentially become reinfected?

I have other family members who don’t understand being hesitant to travel, but yet are aware I am at a higher risk for complications should I contract COVID-19. They ask, why are you living in FEAR?

I don’t believe I am living in fear, but rather making educated choices. I follow and respect guidelines if it means keeping others safe and making calculated choices for the safety of my family. I also don’t relish the idea of experiencing symptoms while out of town or contracting COVID-19 if I can avoid doing so. I have had to set boundaries.

These days, the choices of another person could be a matter of trust and I find making these choices is not dependent on what they say, but rather observing behavior and choices they have made. This means I may avoid in-person contact with these individuals at this time. If I do choose to spend time with a smaller group of my family over the holidays it will be with individuals who follow suggested guidelines and are lowering risks for infection both for themselves and others. If I can’t trust another individual’s choices then this year, my answer will be a no to having dinner or sharing in indoor activities at this time. Boundaries are sometimes not fun or easy, but they can help us to set our own guidelines for health and wellness and they may not always be a match with other choices and opinions. It might mean we don’t experience our typical holiday gatherings, but it might mean we protect our health in a manner that allows us to experience more holidays and events in the future. 

Distance, wearing a mask and observing choices and setting boundaries are things we have in our control. I don’t know how December will work out. If the state shuts down and hospitals in the area continue to see record numbers of cases, then my family will further restrict or cancel plans for travel. In the meantime, I have found tools that can help individuals to evaluate the area they are living in or where they may be traveling to. The 

 was developed by researchers at Georgia Tech. It uses updated COVID-19 data and characteristics you can use, such as selecting how many individuals you plan to interact with. Some may not need this tool. Just knowing and limiting high-risk activities might be enough. There are ways to evaluate choices and to do so not by living in fear, but by evaluating choices for risk and safety which are not a guarantee but may limit risk for contracting COVID-19 and unknown consequences.

I by no means wish to suggest what your boundaries are or what choices you should or should not make in life but are just ideas for consideration in what is changing and challenging times. There are individuals I love and care for, but who I would currently not feel comfortable spending time with in person this year. 

I hope that eventually when it is safer to associate some of the challenges and differences in opinion can be overcome on more common ground, but until then, may my family remain healthy and well so they enjoy many holidays yet to come.

Figuring out boundaries and safety in relation to COVID-19 has been an ongoing challenge this year, and with the holidays coming up pressure is mounting. Here is how one cancer survivor considered their boundaries this year.

Tamera Anderson-Hanna

After Weighing the Pros and Cons of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine, I Decided to Get One

Embracing Our Sexy Self as Women After Surgery for Breast Cancer

Weighing The Pros and Cons of Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine

Cancer, Boundaries, Safety and COVID-19 Considerations During the Holidays

Latest News