Cancer Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Bolesnici s malignim bolestima izloženi virusu SARS-CoV-2 mogu biti pod povišenim rizikom od razvoja teže kliničke slike COVID-19. To se prvenstveno odnosi na bolesnike koji su u aktivnom onkološkom liječenju i primaju kemoterapiju, radioterapiju ili druge oblike specifičnog liječenja. Prema dosadašnjim spoznajama, i sama dijagnoza maligne bolesti dovedena je u vezu s povećanim rizikom od razvoja težeg oblika i smrti od COVID-19. Nadalje, onkološki bolesnici mogu imati atipičnu prezentaciju bolesti, a s druge strane komplikacije liječenja mogu oponašati COVID-19, primjerice pneumonitis i febrilno stanje s neutropenijom. Štoviše, limfopenija koja je česta kod zaraze, može već biti prisutna kao posljedica kemoterapije. S obzirom na navedeno, kliničke aktivnosti prilagođene su uvjetima pandemije. Preporuke za liječnike i bolesnike uključuju smanjenje izloženosti bolesnika i medicinskog osoblja, korištenje telemedicine, odgodu ambulantnih pregleda koji nisu hitni te prilagodba intenziteta i načina aplikacije terapije kada je to dozvoljeno.Patients with malignancies exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus may be at increased risk of developing a more severe clinical picture of COVID-19. This primarily refers to patients who are in active oncological treatment and are receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other forms of specific treatment. To date, the diagnosis of the malignancy has been associated with an increased risk of developing a more severe form or even death from COVID-19. Furthermore, cancer patients may have an atypical presentation of the disease, while treatment complications may mimic COVID-19, such as pneumonitis and neutropenic fever. Moreover, lymphopenia, which is common in infections, may already be present as a result of chemotherapy. Given the above, clinical activities have been adapted to the circumstances surrounding the pandemic. Recommendations for physicians and patients include reducing patient and medical staff exposure, use of telemedicine, postponing outpatient non-urgent examinations, and adjusting the intensity and modality of administration of therapy when possible