Cancer treatment during covid

Regulating the care of cancer patients during COVID-19

The COVID-19 virus has a serious impact on every aspect of people's lives, including the health service system. One of the most influential aspects during the COVID-19 pandemic is the care for cancer patients.

People who have cancer appear to be more likely to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus than those who do not. Therefore, several health institutions and services are trying to be more prepared to manage the epidemic which has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

Many of them shared their knowledge of managing the cancer care system during this pandemic, given the world's focus on COVID-19.

COVID-19 Outbreak updates Country: IndonesiaData

1,012,350

Confirmed

820,356

Recovered

28,468

DeathDistribution Map

According to articles from Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network , the most important factor in undergoing cancer treatment during an outbreak is open communication. Both among hospital staff, patients, carers, and the general public.

Then, your doctor may review your cancer treatment plan, including the risks if things change. In some cases this will require discussion of modification of the treatment plan.

This is because the benefits and risks of certain treatments may have different effects on the risk of COVID-19.

Generally, most hospitals use telephone consultation services as a way to prevent patients from waiting long at the hospital and to get a calling number.

That way, the risk of contracting COVID-19 can be reduced and you can wait safely in your home. Here are some things that need to be considered regarding the care of cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Avoid contact with people showing symptoms of the coronavirus
Pay attention to related symptoms, such as fever or cough
Reducing the use of public transportation or not traveling during peak hours
work from home
avoid crowds, large gatherings, or in public spaces
keep in touch with friends and family via phone or social media
use a telephone or online service to contact a doctor

In conclusion, both ordinary people and cancer patients need to undergo it social distancing , namely keeping a distance from other people of about 1-2 meters to reduce the risk of transmission.

The risks cancer patients face are related to the coronavirus

As previously mentioned, cancer patients are more at risk of being infected with the coronavirus than those who don't have cancer. What's more, when they are undergoing cancer treatment during the COVID-19 outbreak, such as:

are undergoing or have finished receiving chemotherapy in the past three months
getting immunotherapy or ongoing antibody treatment for cancer
have cancer treatments that affect the immune system
undergo intensive radiotherapy for lung cancer
had a bone marrow or stem cell transplant in the past six months
are still taking or using immune-suppressing drugs
blood or bone marrow cancer patients who are in the treatment stage

However, to date there has been no evidence to support changing treatments or chemotherapy being discontinued in cancer patients.

Therefore, it is not advisable to stop routine immunosuppression or anti-cancer therapy. This is because there is no evidence that delaying or stopping treatment can reduce the risk of COVID-19.

Another cancer treatment option during the coronavirus pandemic

In fact, the American Society of Clinical Oncology has made several other cancer treatment options if the transmission of the virus gets worse. Some of the points below are considerations that may be discussed with doctors regarding the care of cancer patients during the COVID-19 outbreak.

discontinuing chemotherapy for patients receiving therapeutic care
switching from IV chemotherapy to oral therapy for selected patients
provide a two-week chemotherapy break if local transmission occurs
consider the feasibility of administering therapeutic drugs at home

There are several things that should be considered if therapy is postponed until it is stopped, such as the number of therapy cycles that have been completed and the patient's tolerance for therapy. It is important to remember that changing therapy can contribute to the risk of cancer recurrence.

During this pandemic, the focus of the government and hospitals may be on patients with related symptoms. In fact, the increase in cases in most countries also poses challenges for doctors and cancer patients, such as:

staff shortage due to the risk of deployment
limited facilities, such as beds, ventilation, and other equipment
travel bans reduce international donor access to transplants

Therefore, don't forget to consult with your doctor, both about the latest conditions and cancer treatment plans during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Are there any obstacles to getting medicines for cancer patients?

In fact, until now, the shortage of drugs for cancer patients due to the coronavirus outbreak has not occurred, especially in developed countries. Several countries have prepared themselves to face the impact of the spread of the virus by having stocks of generic drugs, such as paracetamol.

Even so, it never hurts to enrich yourself with the latest information regarding this disease outbreak and the treatment you are undergoing.

The thing you need to remember about cancer treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic is that there is no need to change the way you order prescriptions or take medication as long as there is no doctor's instruction.

If a patient is worried and buys an excessive amount of the drug, it will actually affect other patients. They may not get the necessary medicines and medical products because of a shortage of drugs due to excessive purchases.

Treatment of cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic must always be followed by a doctor's instructions. Both the treatment plan to the frequency of consultations to the hospital.