COVID-19 and systemic anticancer therapy: exploiting uncertainty
Ce dossier présente un ensemble d'articles concernant la prise en charge des cancers durant la crise sanitaire liée au COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only disrupted lives, but has put health-care systems under considerable strain. The resource demands for the acute treatment of patients with COVID-19 had to be balanced against resources needed for regular care of patients with cancer during the peaks in COVID-19 incidence. Initially, there were concerns that patients with COVID-19 who were undergoing cancer treatment would have considerably increased mortality rates. Subsequently, cancer screening programmes were temporarily paused and cancer treatments were scaled down according to rapidly published guidelines.The effect of reductions in treatments prescriptions on the prognosis of patients with cancer is not yet known, but the impact on patient concerns about their treatment and follow-up has been substantial. A survey of more than 5000 patients in the Netherlands has shown that even among patients who had no alterations to their treatment since the pandemic began, one in four patients reported being concerned or very concerned about potential consequences for their treatment or follow-up, with higher proportions reported in regions with incidence considered high enough to overwhelm health-care systems (>200 cases per 100 000 people). The restrictions on face-to-face consultations will have added to this uncertainty. At present, a second wave of COVID-19 is being observed in many European countries, and thus uncertainty remains. Practical strategies for clinicians have been proposed, to employ in conversations with patients, caregivers, and family to address the uncertainty associated with their care
The Lancet Oncology , commentaire en libre accès, 2019