Leukemia, chemo, and firearms?

[kingcorrado]

Thank you for all the replies. Yes, he will have a compromised immune system, and I also don't know if lead or any component of gun smoke can interfere with the function of his chemo. I am leaning towards a co2 bb gun with either steel or copper plated bbs until he reaches maintenance therapy. His port is dead center on his sternum, so I'm not worried about shoulder abrasions or recoil on a .22, just the chemical exposure. I'll probably get both the bb and a .22, he can shoot the bbs all day in the backyard, and once in a blue moon, there is an indoor range I found close by that was just built two years ago and has hepa filters. Maybe once every month or two with a respirator. I'm still leery about asking his oncologist. Asking a doctor if you should give your kid a gun is like asking the school board some places. All of you have given great advice, and no disrespect, but is anyone on here an RN or higher or a cancer patient/survivor that has first hand experience? Private message me if you want.

 

[xfyrfiter]

You might also think of a pellet rifle and pba pellets, they are plated and are also more accurate in my rifle. BTW they are gold in color.

 

[kingcorrado]

Addition..the access to the port is sternum, it goes in the vein on off shoulder so recoil will not be problem besides bruising. Anyone can give an honest review of umarex airguns? They have a copy of m4 that fires 6 round steel bb burst and has picatinny rails to accept optics and a grip)pod. Would be about $150 to buy package I want, plus another $50 for bbs and lots of co2. Waste of money, or good safe introduction?

 

[jim in Anchorage]

You need to establish if you came here dumb in the beginning or it grew on you...

It grew on me, but I think beer was a much bigger factor then lead

 

[Gaffer]

Several years ago we had a preteen junior rifle shooter with leukemia and he want though all these ordeals. He today is a strapping 6 footer and very healthy. He had to miss some of the shooting when he was most vulnerable but he made it and has fully recovered. Hang in there!

 

[Dudedog]

I had an issue with lead from shooting at an indoor range. I don't shoot there anywhere near as often but when I do I wear a 3m 8515 N95 vapor mask. (these are nit just a "dust" mask)
My thinking is it is designed to filter out fumes from melting metal. It does not filter out as muchs the 6000 series but is a much lighter and more comfportable to wear.

Can't remember where I ordered them from on Amazon (automotive refinishing supplies place) but a box of 10 was only like $25 as opposed to the hardware store that wanted $11 for one.

I would ask the MD and she what he/she says. Hopefully you will get an honest answer regardless of the Docs feeling about guns.

 

[vtail]

I've had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma now for over four years and have my 43rd or 44th chemo treatment scheduled for next week. I've actually lost count. Lymphoma and leukemia are closely related.

When I had my port installed, I had them install it directly above my heart so I wouldn't have to worry about any recoil from any shotgun or rifle (I'm right handed). If I bump it, it hurts a little, but I manage to keep it fairly protected. An 11 year old would certainly be prone to more contact than would a 51 year old.

I haven't noticed any ill effects from shooting pistols or rifles at all. In fact, there hasn't seemed to be anything that affected me other than the treatments themselves. I had the R-CHOP treatment regime. The T-Cell treatments may be different than the B-Cell treatments.

If he were my son, I wouldn't be afraid to get him a .22 or even a small center fire rifle or shotgun. Don't be afraid to ask his oncologist any question you have. They're not all anti-gun, though many are I'm sure.

Good luck with his treatments and let me know if there are any questions I could answer for you. Private message me if you would like....

 

[Joshua M.]

Good luck, and prayers your way for your son, and his support team..I just lost my 16 year old nephew, my hunting buddy, Tuesday morning, after a 3 year battle with cancer.....