SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital - Mt. Vernon issued the following announcement on July 30.
COVID-19 has changed the way many people interact. Hugs and handshakes seem like a thing of the past. One group that may have especially changed its ways is cancer patients and survivors.
Risk of infection
Long before COVID-19 came along, cancer patients were at a higher risk of developing any infection. That’s due to cancer or potential treatments taking a toll on a person’s immune system, notably, white blood cells. In layman’s terms, they’re the fighters against infections.
“Chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy treatments are often directed at rapidly-dividing cells,” says SSM Health Radiation Oncologist Dr. Michelle Mackay. “Unfortunately, white blood cells are rapidly-dividing themselves, so they can also be adversely affected.”
While many cancer survivors recover well, others can suffer long-term effects to their immune system, because everyone responds to treatment and recovery differently.
A cautious approach
SSM Health cancer care teams are being very careful to protect the well-being of patients. Patients will be tested for COVID-19 before undergoing any immune-compromising treatments.
“We want to avoid any potential interruptions, while also knowing a person is as strong as possible going into a treatment,” says Dr. Mackay.
Patients are also asked to avoid social interactions as much as possible and practice good hygiene like washing their hands, avoiding the temptation to touch their face, and wearing masks. If someone were to develop an infection during treatment, the severity of the infection would need to be weighed against the impact of stopping or delaying treatment.
“Life always throws us curveballs and we’ve had challenges in the past, but the pandemic has produced a new level of cautiousness and awareness,” says Dr. Mackay. “Fortunately, we’ve learned a lot in a short amount of time and feel we can deliver safe, effective and compassionate care.”
What the future might hold
While we have learned a tremendous amount about COVID-19 prevention, its long-term impact on cancer patients remains uncertain. Some studies show higher death rates for cancer patients who become infected, while other research suggests they don’t fare differently than any other groups of people.
“It’s too early to fully interpret all the data,” says Dr. Mackay. “Even though it may feel like we’ve been in this pandemic for a long time, we’re still in the early stages of data collection.”
We also don’t know how the pandemic will impact cancer rates. One concern is about changes in screenings. Mammograms and colonoscopies were postponed early during the pandemic, and even now, some people may be hesitant to schedule the screenings. That could lead to fewer early detections of cancer and, thus, more advanced cases.
“Already in my own practice, I’ve noticed that the average stage of disease in my patients is higher than a year ago,” says Dr. Mackay. “That’s one anecdotal point, but once we eventually have the data, there’s a chance we’ll look back and see a trend.”
You can safely seek medical care and protect yourself from exposure to COVID-19. SSM Health has extensive safety precautions and infection control measures in place at all our facilities to limit the risk of exposure and keep everyone safe. Here’s how SSM Health is providing safe care for you and your loved ones.
Original source can be found here.
Source: SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital - Mt. Vernon
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