Oops, you're using an old version of your browser so some of the features on this page may not be displaying properly. These recommendations should be used as guidance for prioritising the various aspects of cancer care in order to mitigate the negative effects of the COVID pandemic on the management of cancer patients.
The situation is evolving, and pragmatic actions may be required to deal with the challenges of treating patients, while ensuring their rights, safety and wellbeing. Recent limited data from China, and more recently from Italy and the US, do however seem to confirm a higher risk. Available data indicate that older people are more vulnerable, with underlying health conditions such as chronic respiratory, cardio-vascular or chronic kidney disease, diabetes, active cancer and more generally severe chronic diseases.
For all patients A and B it is mandatory to provide health education: a Avoid crowded places; b Wear PPE when you attend hospital for visits and treatments; c Correctly wash your hands according to World Health Organization WHO indications; d Do not have contacts with friends and relatives with COVID symptoms or living in endemic zones; e Guarantee social distancing with all people: protect yourself to protect others.
For patients receiving active treatment B , living in epidemic zones or not, hospitals should identify specific pathways in order to guarantee timing of treatment with curative intent and, when possible, also for patients with metastatic disease. Outpatient visits for cancer patients should be reduced to the safest and most feasible level without jeopardising patient care. For patients receiving oral treatment for which monitoring can be done remotely, drug supply should be provided for at least 3 courses to reduce access to the hospital.
Blood monitoring for those patients can be done in local labs close to home. We suggest implementation of telemedicine services. We advise to delay all follow-up visits.
