How Are Cancer Patients Coping With COVID-19?
- At the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., one surgeon at a high volume cancer center says his cancer patients are doing remarkably well so far
- The lack of human touch during treatment can make it harder to alleviate fears
- Please be open and honest with your doctor. Communication can really ease anxiety
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Read More “It’s a really tough time at the hospital as you can imagine. New York City is at the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic,” Dr. Stiles says. “So, a lot of our resources are really being diverted towards taking care of those patients. We’re doing everything we can to make sure that our cancer patients get cared for in appropriate fashion during that time as well.” One of the really difficult things, Dr. Stiles says, has been adjusting to caring for patients while adhering to social distancing guidelines. “That’s really been the toughest part for me: not being able to put my hands on somebody’s shoulder, to pat them on the back, to listen to their lungs,” he says. “I do think that that’s a big part of medicine — that human touch. I think that’s why our patients feel scared right now. They’re kind of just seeing doctors on the TV screen. They’re hearing all these other things, getting a constant cycle of news, but they’re missing the human touch.”
Immunotherapy & Coronavirus — What Does the Pandemic Mean for Late Stage Lung Cancer Patients?
Dr. Brendon Stiles explains how doctors will approach treating late stage lung cancer patients amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Stiles acknowledged how important keeping distance is for flattening the curve of COVID-19, “but psychologically it’s pretty hard. I think it scares patients.”
Still, Dr. Stiles says his lung cancer patients are doing well — and having open, candid conversations with the people he treats is really important all the time, but especially now that there’s so much anxiety surrounding the virus.
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