Managing COVID-19 In Cancer Patients

What Is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a severe illness caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for this global pandemic. It has resulted in a number of deaths worldwide. The virus spreads from one person to another person through respiratory droplets. A person gets infected with the Coronavirus when he inhales the respiratory droplets from the infected person’s mouth or nose while coughing or sneezing.

What Is the Incubation Period for COVID-19?

The symptoms of COVID-19 start to appear after two to fourteen days of exposure to the virus. An infected person spreads the virus to other people who are in close contact. A person infected with the virus can still be a carrier of the infection even if he does not show any symptoms.

What Are the Symptoms to Look For in COVID-19?

The symptoms of COVID-19 are the following:

• Fever.

• Headache.

• Loss of smell and taste.

• Cough.

• Difficulty in breathing.

• Sore throat.

• Congestion or runny nose.

• Body pain.

• Muscle ache.

• Diarrhea.

• Nausea and vomiting.

Are Patients With Cancer At a Higher Risk of COVID-19?

Patients with cancer have a weakened immune system. Their body’s immune system will not be able to fight against the infection. So they are prone to infections. If cancer patients get infected with the virus, they will have a poor prognosis. So it is necessary to take extra care during this pandemic situation.

Is It Safe to Take Treatment for Cancer During This Pandemic?

When a person is undergoing treatment for cancer, the doctor will weigh the risks and the benefits of treatment and will discuss it with him. The doctor will consider how urgent the treatment is and will treat accordingly. In certain cases delaying the treatment could be life-threatening or have serious complications. But in certain cases delaying the treatment will not pose serious effects. According to the type of treatment you are taking, the doctor will decide accordingly. So it is necessary to discuss with the healthcare professional.

Patients on Chemotherapy

Certain cancer drugs weaken the immune system. Cancer patients should consult the doctor regarding the cancer drug treatment so that the number of clinical visits can be minimized accordingly.

Patients on Radiotherapy

Usually, people on radiotherapy can continue with the treatment depending on certain factors like:

• Type and stage of cancer.

• How fast the cancer is spreading or growing.

The healthcare professional will follow all the necessary guidelines and precautions to protect the patient and as well as the technicians from contracting COVID infection.

Surgery:

The healthcare professionals will consider the risks of delaying the surgery and will decide based on the health condition and the type and stage of cancer. The healthcare professional will discuss the risks of getting infected with COVID-19 on a longer stay in hospitals.

What Precautions Should Be Taken Before and After the Surgery?

• Isolate 14 days before and after the surgery.

• Get a COVID-19 test done before the surgery. It is recommended to have a negative RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test twice before surgery.

• Consult the healthcare professional and try to minimize the stay in the hospital.

• Make sure to make an appointment over the phone for the surgery and get it confirmed.

• Try to avoid public transport when visiting the hospital.

• Cover the nose and mouth by wearing a mask.

• Disinfect the area that is used by others, like lift buttons, door handles, and public seating areas.

• Avoid touching the face, mouth, or eyes unnecessarily without washing the hands.

Stem Cell Transplants:

Usually, after a stem cell transplant, the patient is at a higher risk of contracting COVID infection. A person will have a stem cell transplant only after high doses of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy itself stops the bone marrow from making the required amount of white blood cells (WBC). WBC plays a major role in protecting the body against infections. So this gets impaired when not enough WBCs are produced.

What Precautions Should Be Followed Against Coronavirus?

There are no special precautions to be taken for patients with cancer. They are similar to the general precautions and guidelines such as,

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water.

• Wash hands after sneezing or blowing the nose.

• Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer whenever going out.

• Disinfect the areas that are commonly used by others before and after using them. Commonly touched surfaces like door handles, lift switches, and public seating areas.

• Wear a mask whenever going out.

• Wear double masks when attending any public gatherings or meetings.

• Wear a mask indoors if living with someone who has the symptoms of COVID-19.

• Maintain a social distance of minimum six feet.

• One should bathe daily and keep themselves very clean and hygienic.

• Get fully vaccinated witha booster dose as well when eligible.

These are some ways that one needs to follow to keep themselves protected against this deadly virus.

Is It Safe for Patients With Cancer to Take COVID-19 Vaccines?

COVID-19 vaccines do not contain any live virus, so it is safe to get vaccinated. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) has recommended everyone above the age of 16 years should get vaccinated, so this includes patients with cancer. With successful trials, now vaccination for COVID is recommended even for kids aged five years and above.

How to Cope with Cancer During the Pandemic?

Everybody will be anxious at this point in time. The best strategy is to cope with the fear and worries. It is not wrong to take support from others.

• Follow a routine.

• Have a healthy and nutritious diet.

• Take plenty of fluids and stay hydrated.

• Try to avoid practicing unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking alcohol, etc.

• Keep oneself active.

• Spend quality time with the family.

• Try to avoid having visitors or strangers.

• People can still remain connected with the friends through phone calls or video calls.

• Keep the rooms ventilated.

• People can use this platform of telemedicine if they have any queries regarding their health or diet.

• Though lockdowns and restrictions have slowly loosened from time to time, one should not consider it as a chance to move out of homes unless it is absolutely necessary.

Conclusion:

COVID-19 has made everyone anxious and worried. There may be a lot of changes in the appointments and treatment. Do not worry. Follow all the necessary precautions and guidelines to keep oneself protected against this Coronavirus.