Challenges from the Increased Spread of COVID-19

[marnieg46]

How will the COVID-19 pandemic affect cancer treatment and research?

The most recent article from urotoday explores a number of the questions raised by members of HealthUnlocked over the last week or two about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer treatment and research. Also discussed are the strategies in place across various locations to minimize the risks to patients.

The references noted in the article are also well worth reading. Links can be located at the end of the item.

urotoday.com/recent-abstrac...

Also from urotoday is a series of videos covering various issues related to cancer and COVID-19

1.Considerations of GU Cancer Patients - Treatments in the New Reality of COVID-19

Petros Grivas, MD, Ph.D, Brian Rini, MD, & Ali Khaki, MD

Petros Grivas, Brian Rini, and Ali Khaki discuss the current status of the COVID-19 global pandemic and its impacts on the current ongoing care for patients receiving treatment for cancer and for patients currently on clinical trials. It is clear that there is no data on oncologic outcomes as the virus is rapidly spreading. Drs. Rini, Khaki, and Grivas discuss aspects of treatment selection and treatment decision-making for each patient.

urotoday.com/video-lectures...

2. COVID-19 Impacting GU Cancer Care - A. Oliver Sartor

A. Oliver Sartor, MD

Oliver Sartor joins Alicia Morgans sharing his perspective of the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) and the current disruption in healthcare. Dr. Sartor discusses variables his institution is experiencing with personnel resources, the importance of staying in close communication with patients and considerations of their care in this challenging time. Drs. Sartor and Morgans also discuss treatment decisions that they are weighing for their GU cancer patients since there is no data.

urotoday.com/video-lectures...

3. Safe and Effective Cancer Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Toni K. Choueiri, MD

Joining Alicia Morgans is Toni Choueiri to share the measures he is taking at his clinic to support safe and effective cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Choueiri, the Director of the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, shares that in addition to following strict screening processes, his team is working to prioritize or pause patient treatments who may be at risk of immunosuppression.

urotoday.com/video-lectures...

4. COVID-19 and Cancer Care at St. Barts Cancer Institute in London UK

Thomas Powles, MBBS, MRCP, MD

Thomas Powles from Barts Cancer Institute in London joins Alicia Morgans to discuss how the GU medical oncology and urologic oncology communities are preparing for and caring for people with genitourinary malignancies in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

urotoday.com/video-lectures...

[NPfisherman]

Hi Marnie,

Thanks for sharing this information...these are challenging times and for those undergoing treatment,....self isolate and sanitize is the best policy... Planning when you go out for appointments... Wearing vinyl or latex gloves to avoid touching objects... Being older, we are all at higher risk.... Abiraterone has left my lymphocyte count decreased... When in doubt, stay home...

Fish

[marnieg46 in reply to NPfisherman]

Yes I agree. Those whose health is compromised in any way should do whatever they can to avoid further exposure.

[NPfisherman in reply to marnieg46]

The US has over 46,000 cases and until we see a decline in the daily cases, then we are no where near out of the woods....over 600 deaths...saddening...

Fish

[NPfisherman in reply to marnieg46]

Did I say 46,00 cases 4 days ago?? Double that and the death count too...so saddening... I am in isolation and feeling so overwhelmed that posting positive news about PCa breakthroughs seems meaningless...on Sabbatical...

Fish

[tom67inMA in reply to NPfisherman]

Hi Fish, why do you say Abiraterone has decreased you lymphocyte count? I'm curious because right now I'm on both Abiraterone and Atezolizumab and need all the lymphocytes I can produce. Is there any study I can show my oncologist that would support stopping Abiraterone? The combined side effects of 6 fatigue inducing cancer drugs is getting to be a bit much!

[NPfisherman in reply to tom67inMA]

Hi Tom,

Please see the safety profile part of this post...

ascopost.com/issues/july-25...

The most common laboratory abnormalities of any grade (> 20%) were anemia, elevated alkaline phosphatase, hypertriglyceridemia, lymphopenia, hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, and hypokalemia.

What can you do?? Try getting adequate amount of foods that help the immune system--see below, plenty of rest, stay hydrated, exercise, meditation...

webmd.com/cold-and-flu/ss/s...

I have been following your new challenge of getting MCRPC and neuroendocrine and wish you the very best...Hope the PD-L1 inhibitor with abiraterone works well for you..

Take care and be safe...

Fish

[tom67inMA in reply to NPfisherman]

The good news is that a CT scan showed significant tumor shrinkage after only 2 cycles of chemo! Lymphocytes were last seen at 0.8, which while low is the second highest they've been in the past year and the first time they've ever been higher than my Neutrophils (which are now seriously low, obviously).

The bad news is that chemo is seriously sucking right now, and I hope there's a civilized society left when I'm done with it in a few months.

[NPfisherman in reply to tom67inMA]

Hang in there, brother...significant reduction of tumors is good news...As for the epidemic, well... Guess what?? All prior epidemics have ended at some point and this will too... Take hope in that knowledge and stay safe in the meantime... Do you have a mask to wear to appointments?? If not, you should have one... some people are wearing vinyl or latex gloves when out and that might be a good idea also...

Be well and be safe...

Fish

[hansjd]

Hi marnieg46 I hope you are both doing OK . The numbers of COVID -19 just seem to be going up so fast in NSW. Letting 2700 off the Ruby Princess without testing was not a wise move. The NT government closed our borders today and I have to say I am grateful. So far we have just 6 cases, all imported, in fact 2 were from the Ruby Princess. Very strange to think the lock down could be for 6 months or longer, but better than exponential growth in cases. Someone joked that we can still go camping .... without the backpackers and the grey nomads : ) Like the old days in the Territory ! Stay well G&J

[marnieg46 in reply to hansjd]

Gail, great to hear from you and, likewise, hope things are going well for you both. Unbelievable about the Ruby Princess and the other two liners. Certainly pushed our numbers up in NSW. What is also amazing is the almost daily updates of restrictions from the PM including those last night. Not sure why they don't 'go for broke' and get really serious. The border closures by the various States/Territories is a move in the right direction and will limit the spread somewhat. Keep well and I'll message via chat.

[cujoe]

M,

Here is a MedPageToday article that updates and expands on your post. Title says it all:

Cancer Patients at Special Risk for COVID-19? — Retrospective data from Wuhan point to the possibility

medpagetoday.com/infectious...

Stay Safe & Be Well - Captain K9