How does COVID-19 affect cancer patients?

Dr Senthil Rajappa, medical oncologist at the Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital explains that compared to a fatality rate of around 2-3 per cent among the healthy populace contracting COVID-19, cancer patients were at a higher risk with a death rate close to 20 per cent.

Hyderabad: Though the respiratory effects of the deadly novel coronavirus are widely being reported, multiple studies are now suggesting that the fatality rate among cancer patients is much higher than others contracting the disease.

Dr Senthil Rajappa, the medical oncologist at the Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital, said that the risk of novel coronavirus is higher in cancer patients. He explained that the percentage of COVID-19 deaths in the general population was 2 to 3 per cent while there was a 20 per cent death rate among cancer patients.

Here are excerpts from his exclusive interview with Eenadu:

What is the effect of COVID-19 on cancer patients?

Most cancer patients are over the age of 60. It is common for them to have other complications like diabetes, hypertension. As a result, they have lower immunity. Chemo and radiation therapies can also cause immunosuppression. To those who are already at risk of infection, COVID-19 will prove deadly. Patients with cancer are highly susceptible to this virus. If infected, they may have to get ventilator support. The chances of death are higher among cancer patients.

Cancer is already considered fatal. Is it possible for cancer patients to refrain from visiting the hospital during this outbreak?

Cancer patients should be treated at specific intervals. However, there are certain points to be considered here. Some patients have a 100 per cent recovery rate. Postponing such sure-shot treatments is life-threatening. For example, breast cancer can be completely cured if detected early. In some cases, we continue the treatment but the disease does not go away. In such cases, the treatment is useful only to prolong the patient's lifespan. We suggest slight changes in therapy for such patients. We are asking them to postpone their surgeries.

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Typically, treatments are sometimes performed first, followed by surgery and chemotherapy. In the current scenario, we are performing chemo and radiotherapies first. Few people need hospitalisation and IV treatment. We are prescribing them oral medication. If we believe that certain drugs can cause immunosuppression, we are reducing their potency. Patients who pre-booked consultations are advised to wait for a few more weeks. Unless an emergency, we are postponing surgeries as much as possible. By these means, we are trying to minimise the number of patients.

Will telemedicine be of use?

Definitely. We are making the best use of telemedicine. We are video calling the patients through WhatsApp, giving them suitable advice. My advice to the cancer patients is that if you come out, you are putting your own life and your caregivers' lives at risk. Only in the case of severe symptoms, cancer patients must be rushed straight to the hospital.

Are there any specific precautions that cancer patients must take?

They must follow the same precautions as everyone else. They must take nutritious food. Family members and caregivers should also avoid close contact with cancer patients to avoid putting them in further risk of contracting COVID-19.

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