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Radiation oncology during COVID‐19: Strategies to avoid compromised care
Author(s) -
Horsley Patrick J,
Back Michael,
Lamoury Gillian,
Porter Brian,
Booth Jeremy,
Eade Thomas N
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
asia‐pacific journal of clinical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1743-7563
pISSN - 1743-7555
DOI - 10.1111/ajco.13456
Subject(s) - covid-19 , radiation oncology , pandemic , medicine , compromise , intensive care medicine , medical emergency , cancer , quality (philosophy) , service (business) , radiation therapy , emergency medicine , oncology , business , pathology , philosophy , epistemology , outbreak , social science , disease , marketing , sociology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
The COVID‐19 pandemic will present a range of challenges to radiation oncology departments. Early data suggest that cancer patients carry a higher than average, but still low absolute risk of hospitalization from COVID‐19. The risk of severe events for those who are hospitalized however, is high. Resources for usual cancer care will likely be limited. Decisions to alter, delay or omit treatment during this period should consider both the risk of the cancer and of COVID‐19 to the patient, as well as resource constraints. There is a need for departments to adapt with goals of maintaining an uninterrupted, high quality service and of minimizing compromise to oncologic care.