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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · South Asian J Cancer 2021; 10(01): 19-22
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1721292
Review Article

Caring for Cancer Patients during Corona Pandemic—(COVID-19)—A Narrative Review

Sree Karthik Pratapa
1   Departments of Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Wardha, Maharashtra, India
,
Sourya Acharya
1   Departments of Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Wardha, Maharashtra, India
,
Sai Spoorthy Mamidipalli
2   Departments of Psychiatry, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Wardha, Maharashtra, India
,
Amol Andhale
1   Departments of Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Wardha, Maharashtra, India
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Background Coronavirus disease 2019, the third pandemic of 21st century which has brought the whole world under panic, is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a zoonotic beta coronavirus sharing phylogenetic, genomic similarities with SARS virus and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus.

Specific Concerns Cancer patients are at double the risk than normal patients since these patients are at immunocompromised state. WHO guidelines advice the patients to plan only emergency hospital visits only till the pandemic persists. Should meet patient/visitors in a well-ventilated room or outdoors and maintain at least 2 m distance between the visitor/patients. It also encourages the patient to refill the prescribed medications in well advance and to stay physically active, if possible.

Discussion The World Health Organizations’ isolate, trace, test, treat policy needs to be followed to protect these high-risk patients from this global pandemic.]

Keywords

cancer - coronavirus - COVID-19 - immunosuppressive state - myths - pandemic


Publication History

Article published online:
20 August 2021

© 2021. MedIntel Services Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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