Covid-19 pandemic has brought the world to a standstill. However, there is a section more worried than others—cancer patients. And the fear is REAL as medical evidence suggests that people with weak immunity, especially those suffering from comorbidities ( cancer, diabetes, hypertension, etc.) are at a greater risk of Covid-19 virus.
Confirming the fears is a recent report published in The Lancet Oncology on Feb 14, 2020, which states that cancer patients have a weak defense against the highly contagious infection.
The rise in the number of talcum powder cancer lawsuits in recent years has caused enough unrest among the patients and even the families. With the growing infection rate of coronavirus, many talcum powder cancer patients are restless and anxious. From practicing social distancing, restricted medical access to over-burdened health services, the future looks grim for cancer patients to access medical care and pursue legal consultation.
In this post, we shall provide some useful information for cancer patients against the Covid-19 outbreak.
How Cancer Treatment Cripples Your Immunity?
We are all prone to infections, from general flu, common cold to as strong as the coronavirus. It’s our in-built immunity that helps fight off infections, but the newly identified pathogen—Covid -19 paralyzes the very same natural tendency.
Our immune system is built of a number of organs including
- white blood cells,
- antibodies,
- complement system,
- lymphatic system,
- spleen,
- thymus, and
- bone marrow.
All these organs are crucial in overpowering many infections. But Covid-19 is little known to the medical fraternity, but many virologists infer its close connection to the family of the infamous SARS and MERS virus.
Coming back to cancer patients; people undergoing chemotherapy tend to suffer from poor immunity as the bone marrow fails to produce sufficient white blood cells to fight the infections.
It doesn’t raise a brow as to why a significant number of people have grown obsessed with building their immunity by eating right, practicing yoga, and other exercises. But that’s no cure to this virus that spreads through aerosols and attacks your lungs.
Cancer patients are already susceptible to weak defense against a number of bacteria, viruses, and other organisms. In such a precarious global health crisis, cancer patients have to be extra-careful against this contagious virus.
How Do I Suspect Covid-19 Infection?
It’s better to be safe than sorry. Be vigilant to your body signs that indicate you may have got infected.
General symptoms include
- body temperature above 37.8C,
- unusual dry cough for a couple of days,
- chest congestion,
- shortness of breath,
- body aches, and
- diarrhea.
However, the symptoms may vary from person to person. Most of the commonly used antiviral drugs do not work against this virus.
See, there is no confirmed cure or vaccine so far. But timely diagnosis and taking anti viral drug like Remdesivir can save your life and many others in your community.
As a cancer patient, if you suspect any such symptom, consult your doctor immediately for guidance. You can receive all the necessary instructions over the phone, and a special medical team can be sent to your home for a complete assessment.
What should cancer patients do to stay protected against Covid-19?
For all the vulnerable cancer patients, it’s best advised to practice proper hygiene and social distancing in all situations.
This also means you should:
- Avoid meeting any suspected coronavirus patient.
- Avoid public gatherings or events including cancer support group activity in the hospitals.
- Keep commonly used surfaces clean and hygienic.
- Wash hands using soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Seek friends or neighbors help for medicines or grocery shopping
- Connect via teleconferencing or phone with your medical practitioner to avoid undue stress and panic outside.
We strongly recommend following the general public health recommendations issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to stay protected, regardless you’re an active cancer patient or survivor.
Alternatively, seek special instructions for the immediate family and health carers if the patient is terminally ill.
Will cancer treatment be affected during the Covid-19 outbreak?
The COVID-19 outbreak is a testing time for health-care providers and patients with cancer who suffer from the systemic immunosuppressive state. But the medical fraternity has been doing fairly well to make suitable preparations for other patients while the Covid-19 tally continues to shoot in many countries.
Elaborating on the same, Meghan Baker, MD, ScD, hospital epidemiologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Associate Hospital Epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital said, “We have been preparing for this outbreak since January by implementing screening protocols for patients and visitors, preparing patient flow protocols, considering personal protective equipment, and considering staffing”.
Globally, healthcare professionals are under an extreme burden to combat the acute health crisis without affecting the patients with other health issues as serious as cancer. Most of the hospitals have postponed or canceled any tests and even elective surgeries.
We advise consulting your doctor before visiting the hospital where you may catch Covid-19 infection after coming in contact with health care providers or nurses — who happen to be at a greater risk.
Talk to your oncologist to weigh all the possibilities for changing or adjusting your cancer treatment plan.
In the end
As per the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering, over 1.9 m people are confirmed infected of Covid-19 across 185 countries. However, there is little evidence if the cancer patients dominate the figures in any country.
We understand the physical and mental trauma cancer patients undergo during the treatment. But this added stress of the Covid-19 outbreak has triggered acute fear about their future.
The threat is real against this invisible enemy which has become a medical conundrum for the world. If you’re one of them or any close family member or friend is facing a tough time, share your comments in the section below.