TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on older cancer patients
T2 - Proposed solution by the International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group
AU - Nguyen, Nam Phong
AU - Karlsson, Ulf Lennart
AU - Lehrman, David
AU - Mazibuko, Thandeka
AU - Saghatelyan, Tatul
AU - Thariat, Juliette
AU - Baumert, Brigitta G.
AU - Vinh-Hung, Vincent
AU - Gorobets, Olena
AU - Giap, Huan
AU - Singh, Sankalp
AU - Chi, Alexander
AU - Alessandrini, Graciana
AU - Ahluwalia, Abhinav
AU - Durosinmi-Etti, Francis
AU - Zegarra Cárdenas, Jorge
AU - Diabate, Koniba
AU - Oboite, Joan
AU - Oboite, Eromosele
AU - Mehmood, Tahir
AU - Vuong, Te
AU - Kim, Lyndon
AU - Page, Brandi R.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Nguyen, Karlsson, Lehrman, Mazibuko, Saghatelyan, Thariat, Baumert, Vinh-Hung, Gorobets, Giap, Singh, Chi, Alessandrini, Ahluwalia, Durosinmi-Etti, Zegarra Cárdenas, Diabate, Oboite, Oboite, Mehmood, Vuong, Kim and Page.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Older cancer patients are disproportionally affected by the Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. A higher rate of death among the elderly and the potential for long-term disability have led to fear of contracting the virus in these patients. This fear can, paradoxically, cause delay in diagnosis and treatment that may lead to a poor outcome that could have been prevented. Thus, physicians should devise a policy that both supports the needs of older patients during cancer treatment, and serves to help them overcome their fear so they seek out to cancer diagnosis and treatment early. A combination of telemedicine and a holistic approach, involving prayers for older cancer patients with a high level of spirituality, may improve vaccination rates as well as quality of life during treatment. Collaboration between health care workers, social workers, faith-based leaders, and cancer survivors may be crucial to achieve this goal. Social media may be an important component, providing a means of sending the positive message to older cancer patients that chronological age is not an impediment to treatment.
AB - Older cancer patients are disproportionally affected by the Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. A higher rate of death among the elderly and the potential for long-term disability have led to fear of contracting the virus in these patients. This fear can, paradoxically, cause delay in diagnosis and treatment that may lead to a poor outcome that could have been prevented. Thus, physicians should devise a policy that both supports the needs of older patients during cancer treatment, and serves to help them overcome their fear so they seek out to cancer diagnosis and treatment early. A combination of telemedicine and a holistic approach, involving prayers for older cancer patients with a high level of spirituality, may improve vaccination rates as well as quality of life during treatment. Collaboration between health care workers, social workers, faith-based leaders, and cancer survivors may be crucial to achieve this goal. Social media may be an important component, providing a means of sending the positive message to older cancer patients that chronological age is not an impediment to treatment.
KW - cancer patients
KW - fear
KW - older
KW - pandemic
KW - spiritual treatment
KW - telemedicine
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85150500552&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.3389/fonc.2023.1091329
DO - 10.3389/fonc.2023.1091329
M3 - Article
C2 - 36959795
AN - SCOPUS:85150500552
SN - 2234-943X
VL - 13
JO - Frontiers in Oncology
JF - Frontiers in Oncology
M1 - 1091329
ER -