Cancer Research UK issues information for people living with cancer during the coronavirus crisis; Cancer sufferers' questions on coronavirus are answered
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Cancer Research UK is constantly updating its website with information for people with cancer and their families.
It believes that the constant news about the coronavirus pandemic can be worrying for cancer patients and its treatment can lower their ability to fight infection.
What is coronavirus?
The coronavirus is a flu-like virus. It causes an illness called Covid-19 which can affect your lungs and airways. For most people, the virus won’t cause serious problems. But for some people, the virus can have serious complications.
People with cancer are among those at higher risk of complications. This is because cancer and treatment can weaken their immune systems.
How can cancer and treatment weaken immunity?
The immune system protects the body against illness and infection caused by viruses like coronavirus. Some people with cancer have a weak immune system which reduces their ability to fight these infections.
This is because some treatments, like chemotherapy, can stop the bone marrow from making enough white blood cells. White blood cells are part of your immune system.
Some types of cancer can also lower your ability to fight infection. This is usually cancer that affects your immune system like leukaemia or lymphoma.
What do I do if I have symptoms?
The symptoms of coronavirus include:
- a high temperature of above 37.8C and/ or
- a new continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours. If you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual.
Contact your cancer advice line, chemotherapy helpline or Acute Oncology Service if you have these symptoms and you are having cancer treatment or have cancer that affects your immune system.
You should do this as soon as possible if you have these symptoms and/ or you feel unwell.
Your healthcare team will assess you over the phone and might ask you to stay at home. But you should speak to your advice line or healthcare team in the first instance.
Contact your advice line or healthcare team as soon as possible if you have symptoms. Or call 999 immediately if you are seriously ill.
If you have symptoms but you are not having cancer treatment, you can look at the NHS 111 online coronavirus service or call NHS 111.
What’s the advice for people with cancer who have no symptoms of coronavirus?
Staying at home (vulnerable groups)
Some people with cancer are more at risk of being seriously ill if they develop the Covid-19 infection. If you are in one of these groups, you are encouraged to follow particular measures to protect yourself. These groups of people include those:
- having chemotherapy or radical radiotherapy for lung cancer
- with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
- having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
- having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
- who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
If you are unsure what treatment you are having and whether you are in one of these groups speak to the team caring for you.
What is shielding?
Shielding means you stay home and avoid face-to-face contact for at least 12 weeks. You can continue to have visits from anyone who helps you with essential support. For example, healthcare staff or carers.
All visitors should wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when they arrive at your home and often during the visit.
Shielding means you should:
- avoid anyone who has possible coronavirus symptoms
- stay at home
- avoid family gatherings, even in private spaces
- ask family or friends to arrange shopping for you and leave it at your door
You may receive a letter about shielding if you belong to a vulnerable group. If you think you belong to one of these groups and you have not had a letter, talk to your GP or cancer specialist. The 12-week time period may change if the guidance changes.
I live with other people, what should we do?
Anyone who lives with you should reduce their contact outside their home where possible. But they do not have to practice the same shielding measures. They should practice social distancing.
- Spend as little time as possible with other people that you live with in shared spaces, such as the kitchen or living room. Keep these areas well ventilated.
- Try to keep two metres (three steps) away from people you live with. Sleep in a different bed where possible.
- Use separate towels to other people in your house.
- Use a separate bathroom if possible. If you need to share a toilet and bathroom, this should be cleaned after you use them.
- Everyone should wash their hands regularly, avoid touching their face and clean frequently touched surfaces.
Depending on your situation, it could be very difficult to stay separate from others at home. Do what you can. It is important that you feel you can support each other through this.
The decision to protect yourself from coronavirus with shielding measures is down to your personal choice and circumstances. For example, there are some people who, because of their cancer, may have a limited time to live, so they may decide not to fully follow the shielding measures.
For more information about shielding, visit the NHS Inform website
Guidance on shielding and protecting people in vulnerable groups
Help with shopping and medicines
Ask friends and family to help pick up shopping or organise deliveries if possible. If this is difficult, there may be a local volunteer group or charities that can help. Some of these have been formed as a result of the virus.
I have cancer but I’m not in one of the vulnerable groups, what should I do?
If you are not in one of the above vulnerable groups, you should follow guidance for social distancing. The aim is to reduce your risk of catching and spreading the coronavirus.
Social distancing means reducing your social contact with other people.
Guidance from NHS 111 includes:
- steps you can take to reduce your social interaction
- importance of looking after your mental wellbeing and keeping in touch with others
- advice for visitors and informal carers
- Go to more information about social distancing
- Will my chemotherapy and other cancer treatments continue?
- Your healthcare team might review your cancer treatment plan.
Doctors are looking at ways to try and minimise the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on cancer patients. They will aim to continue with your treatment wherever possible. But they might need to change your treatment or prioritise certain treatments over others.
Your team will contact you if there are any changes to your care or treatment.
How do doctors decide about changes to my treatment plan?
When you start cancer treatment, your doctors weigh up the risks and benefits of treatment and discuss these with you. But the risks of your current treatment plan might have changed because of the coronavirus.
Treatment risks include:
- how your cancer treatments affect your immune system – you’re more at risk of becoming seriously ill from Covid-19 if your immune system is weak after treatment
- exposure to the virus during hospital visits – your team might look at how you have your treatment to reduce your hospital visits
Treatment benefit usually refers to the aim of your treatment.
Your treatment might aim to:
- cure your cancer
- lower the chance of your cancer coming back
- help you live longer with your cancer
- control symptoms so you are more comfortable
Your doctors will carefully weigh up the treatment benefit with the risks of treatment. They will also consider how urgent it is to give you cancer treatment at the moment. They will discuss this with you.
Your doctors also have to consider the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on all health services. For example, it’s likely that there will be staff and bed shortages. This means they might need to delay or rearrange treatments. Because of this they might need to prioritise some treatments over others.
Talk to your health care team about the effect of the coronavirus outbreak on your treatment plan. They know about your individual situation and will try to work with you to find the best plan for you. Speak to them about any concerns or questions you might have.
Radiotherapy
Your doctor will talk to you if there are any changes to your radiotherapy treatment plan.
To lower the risk of spreading the coronavirus, your team will ask you to come to your appointments on your own. They will also try to reduce the amount of time you spend in the radiotherapy department. For example, they might text you when they’re ready to start the treatment so you don’t have to wait around inside the hospital.
Your healthcare team will assess you before your treatment to see if you might have Covid-19 or have been exposed to Covid-19.
You might be able to continue with your radiotherapy treatment even if you have confirmed or suspected Covid-19. This will depend on your situation. The radiotherapy team will follow strict guidance on infection control to protect themselves and other radiotherapy patients.
Access to cancer drugs
There isn’t currently a shortage of medicines due to the coronavirus outbreak. For example, we have stockpiles of drugs like paracetamol in case there are any issues with supply.
The government is working closely with the NHS and those involved in supplying medicines. They are making sure that patients can get the medicines they need. There are measures in place to prevent medicine shortages in the future.
Hospital Appointments
Contact your GP or cancer specialist if you are due to go to a hospital appointment. You might have some appointments over the phone, or they may be postponed.
Cancer clinical trials
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, some clinical trials for cancer patients may stop recruiting new patients for now. This is so that time and money can be redirected towards:
- looking after those affected by this virus
- research into the prevention and treatment of coronavirus
Your healthcare team will continue to support and monitor you if you are part of a clinical trial. Talk to your team if you have questions or concerns about a trial you are taking part in.
Coping
Coping with a diagnosis of cancer is difficult. For many, the coronavirus is an extra concern and worry. As a result of the outbreak, there may be changes to your hospital appointments and treatment plan. Some people are having telephone appointments with their consultant or specialist nurse instead. You might miss the reassurance of going into the hospital clinic to see familiar faces.
Your healthcare team are doing their best to support you and protect you from developing Covid-19. If coronavirus is a particular worry for you, do mention this. Write down any questions you have so that you remember to ask them.
It can be very difficult if you have been advised to stay at home and reduce face-to-face contact. Try to stay in touch in whatever way you can, whether by phone, online or letter.
If you are feeling scared or anxious about coronavirus, it might be sensible to limit the time you spend looking at social media or news on TV. Only use reliable sources of information, such as websites mentioned on this page.
Talk to those close to you when you can. It helps to share what is making you anxious. And knowing you are not alone can help you cope better. There are different charities and organisations that offer online support or telephone support.
You can call our nurse freephone helpline on 0808 800 4040. They are available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Or you can send them a question online.
Contact our cancer information nurses
Tips on helping you keep physically and mentally well
Cancer Chat is the online forum where you can share experiences.
Tips on helping you keep physically and mentally well
- Try to do things you enjoy such as reading, jigsaws, cooking, drawing.
- Eat a healthy diet, drink plenty of fluids and avoid getting into unhealthy habits such as smoking or drinking alcohol.
- Exercise – the NHS website has tips for exercise at home.
- Get fresh air – open your windows, if you have a garden go in it, or sit on your step keeping at least a two metre distance from anyone.
- Keep in contact with family and friends – use an app so you can see them, you could eat a meal together while talking to each other.
In Scotland further information and support is available for people.
NHS inform has further information about the coronavirus for people living in Scotland.
