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India
healthysoch
New Delhi, February 02, 2021 :
Amid COVID pandemic when fear of infection is rife, treatment of cancer patients has been suffered at many levels. Cancer is already a prevailing challenge long before even COVID came. WHO’s study confirms one in 10 Indians will develop cancer in their lifetime. Considering the fact that cancer patients are immune compromised, the risk of complications is very much high after catching any infection. Their caregivers should be extra cautious in this regard. So what are the concerns if a cancer patient catches COVID especially if she/he is undergoing treatment?
Dr. J B Sharma, HOD and Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology, Action Cancer Hospital says that:
First of all the risk of catching COVID for a cancer patient and a common person is almost same, but the possibility of getting it severe is high in a cancer patient. Hence precautionary measures and COVID appropriate behaviour is must for everyone. Talking about our own hospital till last December 2020 around 150 cancer patients caught COVID; surely they need extra care in regard to COVID and cancer both. Also not reporting to hospital in the fear of catching COVID infection will only cause progression in disease and stages of cancer.
As countless researches are taking place across the world in regard to COVID infection there is no strong study available yet covering every aspect of disease itself. Hence till we come up with any valid confirmation the COVID infected cancer patients’ chemotherapy is stopped and they are kept quarantine for few days and then treatment is started again after observation. As far as the vaccine is concerned:-
Chemotherapy and COVID Vaccine : – patients undergoing chemotherapy should wait to get vaccinated till their Chemotherapy is over.
Immunotherapy and COVID Vaccine : – This type of cancer treatment has been giving very much satisfactory results which works with patient’s immune system. Patients undergoing this treatment also are advised to go for vaccine after completing their immunotherapy till there is strong data available which confirms about taking vaccine during such treatments.
Talking about Radiotherapy and the suffered management of cancer treatment Dr Kanika Sood Sharma, Clinical Lead and Senior Consultant, Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hosptital shares :-
COVID, Radiation and COVID Vaccine : Not reporting to hospital in the fear of COVID especially by a cancer patient will only take the disease to next stage; also there will be lesser probability of complete cure. As per my own experience around 10 cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy under my care caught COVID, but they bravely fought with both, whereas the disease would have been rendered incurable if they stopped their treatment for the fear of. COVID .Now they are in better condition. And there are few patients who didn’t report on time and developed more advanced stage making them incurable.
Radiation is a very safe treatment modality.
First of all these days radiation therapy has become so advanced that the machine targets tumour so minutely that the risk of damaging tissues around it is very much lesser, which even lowers the risk of any harmful effects to adjoining organs. But the key to success is timely treatment .Patient should report for treatment on time and be regular with radiation therapy fractions. Discontinuation of treatment is going to make the situation worse. Hence cancer patients should be regular with their doctor’s advice.
COVID vaccine can be given to the patient undergoing radiotherapy.
Talking about continuing treatment after catching COVID Dr. Indu Bansal, Director and Senior Consultant- Radiation Oncology, Narayana Hospital Gurugram :–
Cancer patients have decreased immunity and also have multiple co existing co- morbidities. So surgery during COVID times may exacerbate complications and also if they are undergoing chemotherapy they may be at increased risk of neutropenia and decrease in blood counts. Also the COVID infection may cause more complexities in such condition. But not reporting to the hospital and delaying treatment may make it more advanced and hence increase chances of incurability.
Factors like severity of infection, stages of cancer, co morbidities etc influence the right direction of the treatment and the concerned doctor’s take all these factors into consideration before deciding the treatment for the patient.
Hence instead of getting anxious, be regular with your treatment, keep your information source right and share every detail with your doctor. Keep positive approach towards life as not taking treatment, delaying it or leaving the treatment will only make the situation worse.
Always report to the hospital with COVID appropriate care and follow all required precautions:-
- Bring all your documents so that multiple visits can be avoided.
- Go with only one responsible adult to take care of other things in order to avoid more crowd at hospital.
- These days caregivers should be more attentive and careful when patient is on chemotherapy, radiotherapy etc. ensure safety at every possible level.
Considering the tough time we are living in any disease can cause anxiety, stress etc. consult psychologist without hesitation if required.
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