A Detailed Follow-up Guide for Kidney Cancer Survivors Amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic

The novel coronavirus has instilled fear in the minds of many, especially cancer patients. Why? Because many cancer patients are immunocompromised or immunosuppressed. But, what about those who have conquered cancer? Are the recommendations any different than cancer patients? This guide is to clear your doubts about how cancer survivors, especially kidney cancer survivors, should manage their health and activities during the pandemic. 

First things first, do not panic. Cancer specialists, researchers, and experts have said after intensive research that cancer does not inherently increase the chances of coronavirus infection or COVID-19 disease. But, certain types of cancer treatments negatively affect the immune system making a cancer patient immunocompromised, and that MIGHT cause increased chances of infection, as well as severe symptoms. But do you know how many kidney cancer patients have along with survivors will come out of this disease comparatively unharmed? Many. 

Now only one question remains: HOW?

Manage follow-up care

If you’ve just completed your kidney cancer treatment, your cancer specialist might want to watch you closely. There will be many follow-up appointments but, consult with your cancer doctor to ensure your visit to the clinic or hospital is minimal. Opt for telemedicine whenever you can. Try to answer all the relevant questions regarding any problem or side effect you’re experiencing through calls. If you need imaging, travel safely, maintain social distancing, and practice personal hygiene CONSTANTLY. Also, if you think a second opinion would do you good, you can always consult a cancer specialist with a repute who is ready to handle the current situation, like Dr. Manish Singhal, the best cancer doctor in Delhi NCR.

Revise your follow-up visit plan

Your follow-up doctor’s visits depend upon a lot of things, including the stage of your cancer. If your cancer was caught at an earlier stage, chances are, your follow-up visits will be arranged at longer intervals, and if your cancer was caught at an earlier stage, chances are your follow-up visits will be organized at shorter intervals. But, in these times, if your follow-up visit is coming up, you can ask your cancer specialist if it can be postponed or done over video or phone calls because of the current circumstances. 

A big step in managing follow-up care and visits is to create a survivorship care plan with your cancer specialist. If you consulted the best oncologist in Delhi or anywhere in the world, he or she will tell you all about the importance of such a plan in these times. You need structure. 

The plan can include a follow-up exam and test schedule, a schedule for tests required to assess long term health effects of your kidney cancer treatment, a list of probable side-effects citing when to contact your doctor, suggestions to improve health & decrease the chances of cancer return, and reminders to ensure you keep and manage your doctor’s appointments. 

Avoid a recurrence of Kidney cancer

• Do not smoke.
• Exercise regularly but don’t overexert yourself if you’ve just completed kidney cancer treatment.
• Ask your GP and cancer specialist for the right supplements you can take. There is no research to prove that any supplement will help keep cancer at bay, but they might improve your immunity and overall health. This is extremely important during the pandemic.

Don’t skip mental health support

Cancer patients and survivors might feel anxious, depressed, or worried, and it is all normal. Accepting kidney cancer and kidney cancer treatment as a way of life is not easy, nor is it evolving from a patient to a survivor. But, you can do it. Even in these times. According to mental health experts regularly consulting with cancer specialists, the situation right now can increase the fear-factor in many cancer patients & survivors.

The best way to deal with the fear of kidney cancer, cancer survival, kidney cancer treatment, and the concerns among survivors, as well as patients worried about dealing with cancer during the pandemic, is to talk to your mental health support provider. If you did not feel the need for one before, you might need one now. But, try to make sure that it’s all practiced through telemedicine. 

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Do not fear the recurrence of cancer

It is often difficult to predict whether someone’s cancer will come back or not. But, if it does, the treatment plan might depend on where the cancer is, the previous treatment plan, and the patient’s overall health. A combination of therapies including, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and more can be utilized. 

Don’t be scared of recurrence. Your oncologist can help mitigate the fears and help you understand even if recurrence occurs, there are a lot of things you can do, even during the pandemic. But, if you need a second opinion or some more insight you can consult an expert oncologist who has handled many such cases, like Dr. Manish Singhal, one of the best oncologists in Delhi, offering some of the best cancer treatment in Noida and Delhi. 

The path ahead is hopeful for cancer patients and survivors, the path ahead may seem too tiring or scary, but always remember to be alert instead of anxious. There is help available should you seek it. These are difficult times, but these are also hopeful times. If you look at the number of cancer survivors and patients beating the virus or avoiding the virus, you will surely feel a lot less scared.

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