Shielding Myeloma Warriors: 7 Strategies for a Safer Flu and COVID Season

Flu and COVID-19 can be serious for anyone, but for people living with multiple myeloma, respiratory virus season deserves extra attention. Myeloma itself can weaken the immune system, and some treatments can further reduce the body's ability to fight infection.

That doesn't mean you have to spend the season afraid to leave your home. A few practical precautions, along with guidance from your healthcare team, can help reduce your risk while allowing you to continue living your life.

Here are seven strategies to consider during flu and COVID season.

1. Talk to Your Healthcare Team About Vaccines

Vaccination remains an important tool for reducing the risk of severe illness from influenza and COVID-19.

Because myeloma and its treatments can affect how strongly the immune system responds to vaccines, talk with your oncology team about which vaccines are appropriate and the best timing for receiving them. This can be particularly important around treatments such as stem cell transplantation, CAR-T therapy, or other therapies that significantly affect immune function.

Your healthcare provider can also tell you whether additional or updated vaccine doses are recommended based on your treatment and current health.

2. Know the Symptoms—and Act Early

Flu and COVID symptoms can overlap and may include fever or chills, cough, sore throat, congestion, fatigue, body aches, headache, and sometimes shortness of breath.

People with weakened immune systems may not always develop the "classic" symptoms of infection. For example, the absence of a high fever doesn't necessarily mean an infection isn't serious.

If you develop symptoms or know you've been exposed to influenza or COVID-19, contact your healthcare team promptly. Timing matters because antiviral medications for influenza and COVID-19 generally work best when started early.

Your oncology team can also check for possible interactions between antiviral medications and your cancer treatments or other prescriptions.

3. Practice Good Hygiene

Simple precautions can still make a difference.

Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, especially after being in public places and before eating. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a useful alternative when soap and water aren't available.

Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Regularly cleaning frequently touched surfaces can also be helpful, particularly when someone in the household is sick.

Because influenza and COVID primarily spread through respiratory particles, good ventilation and cleaner indoor air are also important tools for reducing exposure.

4. Be Strategic About Crowds and Sick Contacts

Living with myeloma doesn't necessarily mean avoiding every public place. Instead, think about your individual risk and the environment you're entering.

During periods of high respiratory-virus activity, consider avoiding close contact with people who are sick and limiting time in crowded, poorly ventilated indoor spaces.

A well-fitting, high-quality mask can provide another layer of protection in higher-risk situations such as crowded stores, airports, public transportation, medical facilities, or gatherings where you don't know whether others are ill.

And don't feel guilty about asking someone who is sick to postpone a visit. Protecting your health is reason enough.

5. Have a Plan Before You Get Sick

The middle of an illness isn't the ideal time to figure out what you need.

Keep an adequate supply of your regular medications and basic necessities at home. Consider having masks, a thermometer, hand sanitizer, and COVID tests available as well.

More importantly, know who to call and what to do if symptoms begin. Ask your oncology team ahead of time whether they want you to contact their office immediately if you develop a fever, test positive for COVID, or have been exposed to influenza.

Having a plan can eliminate uncertainty when you're already feeling sick.

6. Pay Attention to Your Breathing—and Other Warning Signs

Respiratory infections can become serious more quickly in people whose immune systems are compromised.

Contact your healthcare provider if you develop new or worsening symptoms. Severe difficulty breathing, persistent chest pain or pressure, new confusion, inability to stay awake, or other signs of a medical emergency require immediate medical attention.

Myeloma patients should also pay attention to dehydration. Fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and poor fluid intake can be particularly concerning when kidney function is already compromised.

Don't assume that a worsening symptom is "just the flu." When you're living with myeloma, it's better to ask.

7. Support Your Immune System—Without Falling for "Immune-Boosting" Claims

There is no food, vitamin, herb, or supplement that can magically "boost" an immune system affected by multiple myeloma.

What you can do is support your overall health.

Eating a balanced diet, getting appropriate physical activity, sleeping adequately, staying hydrated, managing other health conditions, and following your prescribed treatment plan all contribute to your body's ability to handle illness.

Before taking vitamins, herbal products, or supplements, talk with your healthcare team. Some supplements can interact with cancer medications or may not be appropriate for people with kidney problems or other medical conditions.

For some patients with recurrent or severe infections, physicians may recommend additional medical strategies based on immune function and treatment history. Those decisions should be individualized.

Protection Without Isolation

Living with multiple myeloma already requires enough adjustments. Protecting yourself during flu and COVID season shouldn't mean putting your entire life on hold.

Think of infection prevention as layers of protection rather than one perfect solution: appropriate vaccination, cleaner air, good hand hygiene, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, masking when circumstances warrant it, recognizing symptoms early, and having a plan with your healthcare team.

Perhaps most importantly, don't wait until you're seriously ill to make that phone call.

When your immune system is compromised, early communication and early treatment can matter.

You can't eliminate every risk. But you can understand those risks, prepare for them, and make informed choices that allow you to protect your health while continuing to live your life.