Therapeutic management of patients with lung cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Lung cancer patients are more susceptible to coronavirus infection, due to the state of immunosuppression caused by both cancer and treatments, such as chemotherapy or surgery. Objective: to characterize the therapeutic management of patients with lung cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic Method: a search for information was performed by combining terms in the PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases; selecting 30 of these. Development: the successful management of lung cancer requires frequent visits to the hospital and admission for research, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, among others. Over the course of many weeks, this added to the immunosuppression and the poor functional and structural condition of the lungs, poses a great risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The treatment of lung cancer presents variations in the case of COVID-19 infection, limiting itself in some of the therapeutic options such as surgery and adjuvant therapy, which in some cases must be postponed. Conclusions: cancer patients may be more susceptible to infection. Treatment of lung neoplasia should be carried out with a series of adjustments according to the status of the local epidemic to reduce the risk of tumor progression and COVID-19 infection.

Keywords

• neoplasias pulmonares
• infecciones por coronavirus
• instituciones oncológicas
• servicio de oncología en hospital.