COVID-19 can affect the health of anyone, regardless of age or circumstance, but it poses an especially serious risk for certain populations. Cancer patients are one of the groups who face complications because of COVID-19.
Cancer can increase the chances of developing a serious infection, and certain types of cancer treatments can also increase the threat of contracting additional illnesses, such as COVID-19. So how does one navigate cancer care in this time of shutdowns and social distancing?
Paul Celano, M.D., FACP, FASCO, is the Herman and Walter Samuelson Medical Director of the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute at GBMC. He mentions a few things to keep in mind when formulating your health plan.
Have an open conversation with your doctor
Dr. Celano says an honest conversation with your doctor or cancer care team is crucial.
"The best way to treat patients is such an individualized decision of what to do and when. It's going to vary a lot between the type of cancer and the type of treatment they receive," Dr. Celano says.
He says doctors will make a balanced decision based on the risks and benefits for each patient and their unique situation. He adds that every patient is different and needs to understand what the risks and benefits are when seeking or delaying treatment.
"There are many cancers where the benefit of treatment outweighs the risk. But are there situations where the patient might not need to be treated? Because we know that many treatments suppress the immune system. It depends on what the treatment is, what the cancer is, what is the setting, what are their other health issues?"
Dr. Celano says he's grateful to have the option of tele-visits available to patients who don't need to be seen in-person for treatment.
Preventative screenings should still take place
Fear of entering a medical setting during a pandemic is understandable, Dr. Celano says, but fear shouldn't necessarily dictate your decision about preventative cancer screening. If you had an appointment that was canceled or rescheduled in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, talk to your healthcare team about your options to reschedule or delay screening. If you have any symptoms, such as a lump in the breast or blood in the stool, don't wait.
"Any kind of symptom, we want to act on it," Dr. Celano explains. "The hospital is equipped to do screenings safely, and I would encourage people to stay with their routine screening as indicated."
If you have any questions about your personal screening timeline or general guidelines, don't hesitate to reach out to your care team.
Follow CDC guidelines to minimize your risk
As far as navigating day-to-day life, cancer patients should follow the same guidelines as the general population, Dr. Celano says.
"Cancer patients are at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 over the general population," he explains. "So wear a mask, wash your hands and seek help if there is a symptom or problem. It's important to do these things for ourselves and our families."
The American Cancer Society also recommends avoiding any gatherings where you might be exposed to the virus and practicing social distancing in public situations.
To learn more about how GBMC is working to protect patients and staff from COVID-19, visit gbmc.org/coronavirus. You can click here to learn more about the services offered by the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute at GBMC.
