Cancer is one of the underlyingdiseases that increases the risk ofCOVID-19 developing to a serious illness.[1][2]
TheNHS of theUnited Kingdom has warned that those undergoing activechemotherapy orradiotherapy forlung cancer and those withbone marrow cancers are vulnerable to serious illness if they become infected with COVID-19.[3][4] In Sweden, individuals who recently got chemotherapy were found to be at a higher risk for developing severe illness following COVID-19.[5]
TheEuropean Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) recommends thatoncologists should remain ready to adjust their clinical routines in the wake of theCOVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations for usingtelemedicine services, reducing clinic visits, switchingintravenous therapies tosubcutaneous ororal therapies, when possible. ESMO also recommends advising patients oninfection control.[6]
The NHS inEngland stresses that individual patient decisions have to be made bymultidisciplinary teams.[3] NHS has also established priority groups for those receiving anticancer treatments such that those with higher chances of success get prioritized for treatment over others.[3]
The European Society of Surgical Oncology advises against seeing patients with cancer who are over 70 years of age in clinic, unless it is urgent.[7]
Even though many COVID-19 patients recover within 2–6 weeks of the onset of symptoms, some develop symptoms that come and go for months. The possibility has been raised, but needs to be investigated further, that patients withlong COVID-19 may be predisposed to the development of lung cancer.[8]