Coronavirus and cancer: What do oncology patients need to know?

Author: Davor Kust, MD PhD

Coronavirus basics. Coronaviruses are a long-known group of viruses that have long been known to cause mostly mild colds, although they can also cause more serious respiratory illnesses. The new type (called COVID-1) that emerged in December 2019 caused a major outbreak of the disease, spreading from its source in the city of Wuhan, China, to a large number of countries on practically every continent. The disease can be transmitted from person to person through droplets. By coughing and sneezing, a sick person spreads the virus into the environment, and then a healthy person can become infected by inhaling the virus. Another way of infection is by touching surfaces that have the virus on them, and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Symptoms of infection are usually mild and may include fever, cough and dyspnea (difficulty breathing), while some patients may not even have any symptoms at all.

How to protect yourself from infection? There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19, so it is important to try to avoid contact with the virus. Protective measures include washing your hands regularly with soap (or a hand sanitizer with 60% or more alcohol if soap is not available) and water for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. When coughing or sneezing, be sure to use a tissue that you then throw away, or cough into your elbow instead of your hand. At home, regularly clean frequently used objects and surfaces (such as doorknobs, keyboards, handles), and avoid unnecessary touching of the same objects and surfaces in public. Masks are not an adequate way of protecting against coronavirus, but should be worn by infected people to reduce the risk of transmitting the disease to healthy people.

How should oncology patients behave? Cancer patients, as well as other people suffering from chronic diseases, may be at increased risk of developing more severe illness after contracting COVID-19. Oncology patients who are currently being treated are particularly susceptible to possible infection due to the impact of oncology therapy on weakening the immune system. Despite this, there are no specific instructions that oncology patients should follow. It is important to follow the above recommendations that apply to other people, and not to spend time unnecessarily in large groups of people. Be sure to contact your doctor if you notice a fever or any other respiratory symptoms, especially if you have been in contact with an infected person or have recently traveled to a country with a large number of infected people. And finally, don't forget to wash your hands!