If you’re like me, news about COVID-19 has been dominating your life recently. The novel coronavirus rapidly spread across the world over the past few months. At the time of this article, there are 3.17 million diagnosed cases, with over 1 million of those in the United States alone. Hospitals and other medical practices are overrun. Medical resources, such as PPE, are scarce.
But one common thread is left out of discussions: patients without COVID-19 who are struggling with their own conditions. For patients like AnnaMarie Dunn, who needs a cancerous mass removed, or Thomas Nixon, who has kidney cancer, the potential delays and cancellations of medical procedures is frightening. After all, their lives count on treatment. So moving forward, how will the medical system help these patients as well? Read the full story in Medical XPress.
COVID-19: A Brief Overview
If you’ve heard about COVID-19, but aren’t quite sure about the details, here is a brief overview to cover the main facts. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are many types of coronavirus. WHO explains:
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans.
MERS and SARS are two forms of coronavirus. Both also cause respiratory distress. COVID-19 is a new disease caused by a new form of coronavirus. The first cases occurred in Wuhan, China. However, COVID-19 has since spread. It is now present in 210 countries and territories across the globe, and has been declared a pandemic.
COVID-19 has many symptoms. In fact, doctors are finding new symptoms weekly. Common symptoms include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- A dry, persistent cough
- Digestive issues, including constipation or diarrhea
- Loss of taste and smell
- Sore throat
Complications of COVID-19 include diabetes, stroke, blood clots, respiratory distress, and organ failure. About 80% of people with COVID-19 will only experience mild symptoms. However, around 20% of patients require hospitalization and ventilation.
The CDC recommends that people take specific measures to protect themselves and stop the spread of the virus. This consists of hand-washing, social isolation (not being in large groups), staying at least 6 feet apart, using telemedicine as opposed to visiting a doctor, and wearing masks. Some states, like Illinois, now legally require the use of masks in public.
Patient Stories
AnnaMarie Dunn
AnnaMarie Dunn, a 68-year-old teacher from New Jersey, has been battling kidney cancer for years. Two years ago, one of her kidneys was surgically removed. But this year, in January, doctors told AnnaMarie that the cancer had spread to her adrenal gland. Her surgery to remove her adrenal gland was scheduled for April 6. But, due to COVID-19, the surgery was cancelled.
Dunn’s surgery date is now June 1. However, many states have increased “shelter-in-place” orders until the end of May or the beginning of June. If this is extended again, Dunn may have to wait even longer for her surgery. She says that she worries:
“about whether the cancer would grow in the meantime. It’s scary not knowing what’s going on.”
Thomas Nixon
Thomas Nixon, 61, was in a similar boat to AnnaMarie. He was diagnosed with kidney cancer in February, with his surgery scheduled for March 27. There were two options: proceed as planned, or wait until a later date. Both options were unnerving, with one potentially exposing him to COVID-19 and the other leaving him to fend with cancer.
Ultimately, Thomas’ doctors decided that it would be more harmful to wait for the surgery. If the procedure was postponed, the 7-centimer kidney mass might metastasize.
In this time, Thomas’ story is somewhat abnormal, as many patients are seeing their procedures postponed. However, it is clear that this change in the medical realm is frightening to patients regardless, prompting an increased need for doctor-patient communication.
The State of the Medical World During COVID-19
COVID-19 is sparking anxiety in patients, partially because nobody knows when delayed or canceled procedures may actually happen. On one hand, many patients understand that this is what the situation requires. But patients with serious medical conditions that require surgical procedures or other treatments are wondering how long they might be without care, especially if their lives are in danger.
This is especially pressing for the rare disease community. Common questions include: will I be able to get my meds? What happens if I have a disease flare-up? Will my condition worsen if I am unable to receive treatment?
Currently, doctors must decide whether or not there is a greater risk involved in handling patient needs and potentially exposing them to COVID-19, or waiting. Part of this requires analyzing their conditions. Patients with diabetes, heart failure, and kidney disease are more likely to experience severe reactions from COVID-19.
Alexander Kutikov, a surgical oncologist, notes that patients with low-risk cancer are better suited for medical delays. These include low-risk prostate cancer and skin cancers. However, patients with lung, liver, or pancreatic cancer are more at risk of the cancer spreading. As a result, doctors and patients must decide what is worth the risk.
