Frontiers in Oncology (Mar 2023)

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on older cancer patients: Proposed solution by the International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group

  • Nam Phong Nguyen,
  • Ulf Lennart Karlsson,
  • David Lehrman,
  • Thandeka Mazibuko,
  • Tatul Saghatelyan,
  • Juliette Thariat,
  • Brigitta G. Baumert,
  • Vincent Vinh-Hung,
  • Olena Gorobets,
  • Huan Giap,
  • Sankalp Singh,
  • Alexander Chi,
  • Graciana Alessandrini,
  • Abhinav Ahluwalia,
  • Francis Durosinmi-Etti,
  • Jorge Zegarra Cárdenas,
  • Koniba Diabate,
  • Joan Oboite,
  • Eromosele Oboite,
  • Tahir Mehmood,
  • Te Vuong,
  • Lyndon Kim,
  • Brandi R. Page

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2023.1091329
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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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.

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