Cancer & covid woes

World Cancer Day is on February 4, 2021. Doctors tell you that during COVID cancer patients need extra care and explain whether people undergoing chemotherapy can take the COVID jab

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?

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.

The writer is Dr J B Sharma, HOD and Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology, Action Cancer Hospital

Keep in mind

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 or radiotherapy, ensure safety at every possible level.

Considering the tough time we are living in any disease can cause anxiety or stress, consult psychologist without hesitation if required.

The writer is Dr Indu Bansal, Director and Senior Consultant — Radiation Oncology, Narayana Hospital, Gurugram 

The Pioneer