PATIENTS WITH CANCER HAVE
WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS, DUE
TO THEIR UNDERLYING CONDITION
OR TREATMENT. ((CHRISTIE))
HAVING A WEAKENED IMMUNE
SYSTEM MAKES IT HARDER TO
FIGHT OFF ILLNESES SUCH AS
COVID-19 RADIATION
ONCOLOGIST...DR. STEVEN DAMORE
WITH CHRISTIE CLINIC JOINS US
NOW OVER VIDEO- CHAT COVID-19
AND CANCER CARE HOW IS
COVID-19 AFFECTING CANCER
PATIENTS? SOME PATIENTS WITH
CANCER HAVE WEAKENED IMMUNE
SYSTEMS, DUE TO THEIR
UNDERLYING CONDITION OR
TREATMENT. HAVING A WEAKENED
IMMUNE SYSTEM MAKES IT HARDER
TO FIGHT OFF DISEASES. ARE
CANCER PATIENTS AT A HIGHER
RISK? WHEN THE BODY'S WHITE
BLOOD CELLS, WHICH FIGHT
INFECTIONS, ARE LOW OR DO NOT
FUNCTION WELL, THE BODY IS
UNABLE TO FIGHT INFECTIONS
EFFECTIVELY. SOME TREATMENTS,
SUCH AS CHEMOTHERAPY AND
RADIATION THERAPY, CAN CAUSE
SIDE EFFECTS THAT DECREASE THE
BODY
INFECTIONS. FOR THIS REASON,
CANCER PATIENTS WHO ARE IN
ACTIVE TREATMENT MAY BE AT A
HIGHER RISK FOR COVID-19.
SHOULD CANCER PATIENTS
CONTINUE TREATMENT? CANCER
CARE, INCLUDING CHEMOTHERAPY,
RADIATION, SURGERY,
CONSULTATIONS AND OTHER
VISITS, SHOULD CONTINUE,
UNLESS YOU ARE EXPERIENCING
CORONAVIRUS-LIKE SYMPTOMS SUCH
AS A FEVER, COUGH AND
SHORTNESS OF BREATH. YOUR
PROVIDERS ARE CONSTANTLY
ASSESSING THE RISKS ASSOCIATED
WITH EACH PATIENT
CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND COVID-19
EXPOSURE, AND IT IS BEST FOR
YOU TO DISCUSS ANY CONCERNS
WITH YOUR PROVIDER. WHAT ARE
SOME OF THE PRECAUTIONS THAT
PROVIDERS ARE TAKING FOR
CANCER CARE? MINIMIZING
EXPOSURE IN MEDICAL FACILITIES
MINIMIZE NUMBER OF MEDICAL
VISITS USING VIDEO AND PHONE
OFFICE VISITS TEMPORARILY
DEFERRING TREATMENTS IN SELECT
PATIENTS (BREAST AND PROSTATE
CANCER) IN AREAS WITH HIGH
INFECTION RATES USING SHORTER
COURSES OF TREATMENT CHANGING
PROCEDURES IN THE CLINIC-
PRESCREEN ALL PATIENTS AVOID
CONTACT WITH OTHER PATIENTS-
PARKING LOT WAITING ROOM
MINIMIZE NUMBER OF VISITORS
WITH PATIENTS SCREEN PATIENTS
WHEN THEY ENTER THE CLINIC ALL
STAFF WEARING MASKS HAND
SANITIZER SANITIZE EQUIPMENT
USED AFTER EACH PATIENT
PATIENT EDUCATION LET THEM
KNOW RISKS STRESS SOCIAL
DISTANCING TESTING PATIENTS
QUICKLY
((CHRISTIE)) ADAM HAS YOUR
FORECAST NEXT. WE'LL BE RIGHT
BACK.
YOU'RE WATCHING THE MORNING