ABSTRACT
Background: Patients with cancer are more susceptible to acquire SARS-Cov-2 infection due to their immunocompromised state related to the disease and anticancer treatment. There is a lack of literature assessing the patient's perspective of the present crisis and its impact on their treatment. Aims and Objective: The present study aimed to address the challenges and sufferings faced by patients with cancer during their treatment in the current COVID-19 pandemic era. Materials and Methods: A single-institute, cross-sectional questionnaire-based observational study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients attending the Oncology outpatient department were enrolled in the study. Results: One hundred patients (64 males, 36 females) with a mean age of 47.17 years (range-24-71) participated in the study. The majority of patients (89%) were aware of the COVID 19 symptoms and did not confuse them with cancer symptoms. Most of them were aware of preventive measures like frequent hand washing, sanitizer usage, and face masks to reduce the risk of infection. Almost half of them encountered difficulties in commuting to the Hospital. Most (83%) of them were worried about treatment delay and disease progression due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost half of the patients (54%) were fearful of acquiring the infection from the radiotherapy machine and immobilizing devices. Two-third of the patients (64%) were afraid to carry the virus back to their homes. Awareness regarding our Hospital's teleconsultation facility was limited among patients. Conclusion: The present study underscores the success of ongoing COVID-19 awareness programs run by the government. However, there is an urgent need to address the various challenges encountered by patients with cancer. The strengthening of telemedicine facilities may reduce the in-person visits made by the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Asian Journal of Medical Sciences is the property of Manipal Colleges of Medical Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Due to COVID 19 pandemic, the treatment of cancer patients has become a dilemma for every oncologist. Cancer patients are at an increased risk of immunosuppression and have a higher risk to acquire any infection. There are individual experiences from some centers regarding the management of cancer patients during such a crisis. So we have developed our institutional strategy to balance between COVID and cancer management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiation Oncology departmental meeting was held to prepare a consensus document on Radiotherapy schedules and department functioning during this pandemic. RESULTS: Strategies were taken in form of following areas were steps need to be taken to decrease risk of infection, categorise treatment on the basis of priority, radiotherapy schedules modification, academic meetings and management of COVID positive patient/personnel in Radiation Oncology department. CONCLUSION: We hope to strike the balance in overcoming both the battles and emerge as winners. Stringent long term follow up will be done for assessing the response or any unforeseen treatment related sequelae.