Advisory for Cancer Patients during COVID Pandemic

According to WHO (World Health Organisation), COVID-19 is a viral infection that spreads at an excessively rapid rate. Up until now, the influenza pandemic was the only flu considered as deadly and severe as the coronavirus. This pandemic has reached a stage of extensive criticality, thereby putting several survivors or patients with a cancer history at a greater risk. The virus outbreak causes three chief stages of mild, moderate, and severe symptoms. Furthermore, old people and people with a medical history of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and much more are highly exposed to this virus’s criticality. Cancer specialists in Delhi are issuing cancer advisory for their patients to help them through these troubling times. 

Cancer and coronavirus

Studies suggest that cancer survivors and patients infected by the virus experienced much more severe symptoms than others. The common symptoms of cancer patients infected with COVID-19 may include fever, fatigue, tiredness, feeling of breathlessness, cough, diarrhea, and nausea. It is best recommended that cancer patients or survivors experiencing these symptoms seek professional help and isolate themselves from the rest of their family. Cancer and non-cancer patients should understand the potential ways through which the virus spreads and take necessary cancer advisory measures to avoid coming in contact with it.

Effects of lockdown on cancer patients 

After the announcement of the lockdown, every cancer patient and other citizens were asked to follow the protocol of staying indoors for at least 21 days. While some people are in self-isolation, some people are indoors with their families. Either way, cancer patients encountered several traumatic experiences during this course of time. A few challenges that cancer patients are facing include- 

• Social issues: Due to substantially less or no social support, cancer patients that live with nobody or older people were unable to do their daily chores or get access to standard requirements of groceries. 

• Financial issues: Due to an extensive lockdown period, businesses are experiencing tremendous downfalls and losses due to which not only the economy as a whole is being affected, but these patients feel burdened with the financial difficulties and barriers. 

• Logistics issues: Patients had immense difficulties in traveling to hospitals as the Indian police asked for several documents for the respective authorities, thereby, in some cases, not allowing them to go for Cancer treatment in Delhi due to lack of documents. 

• Treatment issues: Cancer patients who aren’t in a critical stage are no longer allowed to undergo the Cancer treatment in Delhi until the lockdown ends, which has left them mentally and physically traumatized. 

Recommendations and cancer advisory for patients and their caretakers 

International and national authorities are taking a notch to update their cancer advisory recommendations and suggestions for cancer patients. The fundamental recommendations suggested are as follows. 

• Educating yourself 

Cancer patients undergoing treatment of radiotherapy and chemotherapy are at a comparatively higher risk of being infected by the virus. Cancer patients who come in contact with the virus may experience further complications and symptoms that could even cause death. A few of the red flags that patients must note include- shortness of breath, fever, travel history after the virus spread, potential exposure to infected patients, nausea, and loss of smell and sensation.

• Stress management techniques 

Cancer patients or survivors may or may not encounter severe and enhanced stress and anxiety levels. They may even suffer from secondary depression. In situations like this, contact helpline, spend time with your loved ones indoors, educate yourself and do not believe unverified news sources, and meditate to calm anxiety. 

Tips to mitigate the risk of getting infected by the cancer 

Given below are a few cancer advisory tips that patients should follow.

• Hand hygiene: Make sure to wash your hands regularly and apply a sanitizer, preferably alcohol-based. 
• Avoid going out: Make sure to practice social distancing for the longest period to avoid coming in contact with infected people. 
• Wear a mask: It is best suggested that you avoid going outdoors. Nonetheless, in situations of grocery buying or traveling to a hospital, make sure to wear a mask. 
• Avoid touching your face: While you are outdoors, don’t touch your face until you reach home and wash your hands for at least a minute. 
• Overall hygiene: While disposing tissues and other accessories like paper plates, be careful. 

Dr. Manish Singhal is the best oncologist in Delhi NCR. As a cancer specialist in Delhi, he aims to help cancer survivors and patients going through a difficult time, heal. He offers vast suggestions on cancer advisory so that patients can stay alert and safe in this excruciatingly devastating and scary time. Furthermore, he offers extensive palliative care, surveillance care, and other solutions for all types of cancer patients. Patients experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above should immediately contact the Cancer treatment in Delhi authorities to seek help.