Coronavirus and cancer: what you should know
The risk of contracting COVID-19 and complications from the disease is higher for those who are already battling a chronic health problem.
Most people who get COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, experience mild symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. But the potential for serious illness exists, especially for older adults and people with chronic health problems. And those who are battling cancer are at increased risk for complications of COVID-19.
This is what you should know about cancer and the coronavirus.
How can cancer increase the risk of complications from COVID-19?
There are several reasons why people with cancer find it more difficult to fight infections, and they are related to the effect that the disease has on the immune system.
The cancer itself can interfere with the body's normal immune response. Some types of cancer, for example, change the way the blood cells of the immune system work. Others can damage body tissues and make them more susceptible to infection.
And then there is the cancer treatment. Common therapies, including chemotherapy and x-rays, weaken the immune system by reducing the number of white blood cells in the body. This makes it more difficult to fight any infection, including coronavirus infection, explains Eric Winer, an oncologist and director of Clinical Strategy at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
If a patient has received cancer treatment in the past (not counting a bone marrow transplant), their immune system is probably no longer compromised, Winer says. The highest risk is for those who are currently undergoing treatment or have just stopped treatment. However, because each cancer patient's experience is individual, the American Cancer Society (ACS) encourages patients and survivors to speak with the doctor who knows your medical history best in order to assess your individual risk.
The other component, Winer explains, “is that people who are sick typically have less robust immune function. So to the extent that someone is sick with cancer — even without considering chemotherapy or underlying disease — they may also have compromised immune function, and that makes it much easier for the virus to become a bigger threat to you. that patient."
According to a study, people with cancer have a higher risk of developing complications from COVID-19
A study published in the journal CancerDiscovery (in English) on April 28 points out that cancer patients, compared to those without cancer, are at higher risk of developing serious complications from a coronavirus infection, which could require admission to intensive care unit or even death.
With information from patients from 14 hospitals in China, the researchers found that people with blood cancer and COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, have the highest severity and mortality rates; lung cancer ranks second.
The researchers wrote that “although COVID-19 is reported to have relatively low mortality rates of 2-3% in the general population, people with cancer and COVID-19 are not only three times more likely to die than COVID-19 patients without cancer, but also, the severity of their disease tends to be much higher.
Overall, these findings suggest that cancer patients are a much more vulnerable population during the current COVID-19 outbreak."
What can people with cancer do to protect themselves?
There is no magic immune system booster, says Winer. And without a coronavirus vaccine, the best advice for people with cancer is to "do what we're all doing" and what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends, he adds. This includes frequent hand washing, stay at home as much as possible and maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from other people if you must go out. It's also a good idea to make sure you have an adequate supply of medications and clean and disinfect the home regularly. The CDC recommends wearing a cloth mask or other face covering whenever it is difficult to maintain appropriate physical distance. If you're undergoing cancer treatment, your doctor may recommend another type of face mask to help reduce your exposure to germs.
The ACS offers advice on how to avoid infections for people with cancer, and National Cancer Institute has recommendations on the best way cancer patients can prepare for any emergency.
Are treatments being postponed?
Routine care for cancer patients may be disrupted during the coronavirus pandemic, as hospitals and health care facilities across the country are postponing appointments and non-urgent surgeries. Cancer treatment plans are also being reviewed at some centers, including Dana-Farber.
“From a chemotherapy and radiation standpoint, we are thinking very, very seriously about our treatments,” which can compromise the immune system and also potentially expose a person to the virus, since they have to visit a hospital and come into contact with the virus. close with health care providers, explains Winer.
"Anything that makes you leave the house and puts you in contact with other people increases your risk [of contracting the coronavirus]," he adds.
Be sure to check with your doctor for the latest updates on your treatment.
Should I still get screened for cancer?
No. The ACS recommends that no one go to a health care facility for routine cancer screenings, such as mammograms and colonoscopies, at this time.
When restrictions are relaxed, it is important to make an appointment for the exam. “You have to remember that these screenings save lives,” Dr. Richard Wender, executive director of Cancer Control at the ACS, said in a statement. "Returning to the recommended practice of cancer screening should be a priority."
The ACS notes that screening tests are different from the tests your doctor would order if you had symptoms of cancer. Be sure to contact your health care provider if you have any concerns.
"We're going to get out of this," Dana-Farber's Winer says. “This situation is going to lead to some changes in the way we approach cancer patient care,” including moving toward more video visits and virtual consultations, “but I don't know if all those changes are bad”.
Source: Entity – The Coronavirus and Cancer: What You Need to Know Now