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Date: 2/18/2021
SPRINGFIELD – According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 9 million people lose their lives to cancer around the world every year. That means one out of every six people on the globe succumb to the disease annually, more than a trio of other well-known world health threats – HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria – combined.
For the past 20 years, organizations around the world – including the World Health Organization – have recognized Feb. 4 as World Cancer Awareness Day, a time to pause and raise cancer awareness, and encourage support, action, and funding for cancer prevention, detection, and treatment locally and world-wide.
However in 2021 it’s another scourge – the coronavirus pandemic – that has caught the attention of the world’s medical communities, and individuals globally and locally.
How has this shift in focus affected cancer prevention, detection and treatment?
Reminder Publishing contacted Dr. Philip Glynn, director of Medical Oncology for the Sister Caritas Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center, to learn what effect the ongoing pandemic has had on local cancer detection and care. His answers to our questions are below:
Reminder: How has the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) affected routine cancer screening- has there been a reluctancy to scheduling?
Glynn: Cancer screening recommendations during the pandemic are evolving. In general, the screening process should be dictated by the state of COVID-19's activity in your specific community as well as the overall degree of risk of cancer that a patient may have.
As for cancer treatment there is now an online tool “Onc COVID” to help physicians estimate the risk of delaying surgery or chemotherapy for patients with non-hematologic cancers. This sort of tool is useful for patients who may have reluctance to either proceed with an intervention or delay it.
Reminder: Has COVID-19 had lasting effects on cancer treatment? From diagnosis to surgery, to chemo or other treatment.
Glynn: It will be a matter of time to determine the long-lasting effects that COVID-19 may have on cancer treatment.
Telemedicine use has dramatically increased during COVID-19. It will likely continue to be used routinely to monitor adherence to treatment with oral agents, provide genetic counseling or provide supportive care and education.
Reminder: Has there been an interruption of treatment due to supply issues?
Glynn: Local conditions have been the driving force of policy regarding access to supplies and resources of care. Most of the interruption on regional cancer care has been due to safety issues rather than supplies of cancer therapeutics.
Reminder: Can patients undergoing cancer treatment safely get the vaccine?
Glynn: Several weeks ago, a panel of investigators from the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Infectious Disease Society of American concluded that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were safe and effective for the general public. Their panelists also concluded that there was no evidence to say that these vaccines would not be safe for most cancer patients.
It is important to note that patients receiving treatment for cancer should discuss their plans for vaccination with their physicians. The timing of cancer treatment and vaccine therapy for some patients will be important to coordinate.
Reminder: What are the important points people should know about cancer screenings and treatment now, and as vaccines begin to return life to normal?
Glynn: Here are the points I would like people to remember:
• Perhaps the most critical point to make here is that this pandemic is not over.
• We need to continue to prioritize screening according to risk and benefit.
• We need to adhere to safe, precautious delivery of treatment. “Onc COVID” may help.
• Patients need to discuss the timing and safety of vaccinations with their care providers.
• The importance of this dialogue cannot be overstated. Telemedicine may be an excellent platform for these discussions.