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How bad can chicken pox be on an individual that has cancer?

My father in law has cancer and recently got chicken pox, hes on his first week, with it, however it doesnt look like the clasic chicken pox, it looks more like a dark rush... so i want to know if we should do something about it, considering that because he has cancer his immune system is very low. I read that it could be deadly, is this true? also, how likely is it for people who have had it to get it again? in a scale from 1 to 10... thank you

Public Comments

1. Children have been known to get it more than once and the second time around is usually milder. It is extremely rare for an adult to get it more than once. Chicken pox can kill an adult without cancer. Please call his oncologist right away. The physician on call will speak with you even if it is the middle of the night.
2. Are you sure its chicken pox and not shingles? They are both from the same virus, and this is more common in older people.people who have already had chicken pox. Either way, they most they can do is give him a large dose of asyclovir or valtrex. If it is shingles it will be there a while and will be painful.
3. Is he currently on chemo? If he is, it may be a chemo rash brought on by an allergy to the meds. Contacting any illness when having cancer can be deadly. He should be checked by his oncologist immediately.
4. It depends on the type of cancer, and also on whether the patient is having chemotherapy. Some types of cancer, like leukemia, can compromise the immune system. Chemotherapy can leave a person with a very reduced immunity. Chicken pox can be deadly for a person with impaired immunity. You father in law's doctor should be informed that he has chicken pox, and should examine him to make sure he does not require hospitalization. There have been occasional cases of persons with previous chicken pox getting reinfected later in life. It is not likely to happen, though, except to immunocompromised individuals.
5. When I was getting chemotherapy, I contracted shingles which is the adult equivalent of chicken pox. You need to take your father immediately to the doctor, or call the doctor. My oncologist put me right in the hospital after finding my shingles. The doctor should probably be seeing your dad every week and checking his blood counts anyway.