The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the usual medical care as we know it. To ensure the safety of patients and staff, many hospitals and clinics postponed routine medical or surgical appointments. Whereas elective procedures and regular preventive care can wait temporarily, cancer care cannot! Without timely treatment, cancer patients run the risk of progression and decreased life expectancy. Similarly, timely cancer diagnosis is a critical first step in achieving a succesful outcome. It is possible that delay in “elective” screening procedures like mammogram and colonoscopy may lead to worse treatment outcomes.
“Patients undergoing cancer treatment may be particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 complications.”
Patients undergoing cancer treatment may be particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 complications because of a weakened immune system and the presence of other underlying medical problems. In April 2020, at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), several research abstracts explored the impact of COVID-19 on cancer. Two studies from China indicated that cancer patients are more vulnerable to COVID-19. In another study, a global collaboration of physicians treating lung cancer reported outcomes of 200 patients infected with COVID-19. Most patients had stage 4 disease, on treatments with chemotherapy, targeted therapies, or immunotherapy. It is sobering to note that 152 (76.0%) patients with COVID-19 were hospitalized, and 66 (33.3%) died. The presence of comorbidities like COPD was associated with increased risk of hospitalization and death. In another study from a large cancer center in France, mortality from COVID-19 in cancer patients was approximately 15% at the time of reporting. In this study, patients with hematologic malignancies and those who received recent chemotherapy within the past three months were more likely to have severe disease.
“Cancer clinics face the dual challenge of ensuring access to treatment, while also minimizing the risk of infections.”
Cancer clinics face the dual challenge of ensuring that patients have access to treatment, while also minimizing the risk of infections for patients, family members, and medical staff. As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many cancer centers have made changes to their daily workflow to minimize the risk of infection. We, at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Care Network, have implemented many operational changes to enhance safety. Foot traffic in the clinics has decreased, and social distancing is the norm. All patients and staff have regular temperature checks. Visitors are not allowed unless medically necessary for care coordination. All staff members and patients wear masks. Virtual visits have replaced most visits that do not require in-clinic treatment.
As more information becomes available, oncology clinics will continue to evolve to adopt best practices to maintain quality care while minimizing risks of infection. With widespread testing for COVID-19, hopefully, some of the restrictions can be relaxed. Ensuring the safety of cancer patients will require trust and teamwork between the medical community and patients. It is so heartening to see that our patients have been mostly on board with the operational changes designed to ensure safety.
“Our nurses are true heroes!”
As the pandemic has played out, nurses have stood up to the challenge with exemplary grace. Our nurses are true heroes! They put their wellbeing on the line to provide real, meaningful hands-on care to our patients.
VGPCCN nurses Misty Oxendine and Jennifer Hay
Dear nurses, I want to thank you for your compassion.
Becasue you choose to show up to work everyday, the tradition of caring lives on despite the pandemic. Thank you for all you do!
Reference: https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9045/session/862
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