Cancer patients face higher risk during the Covid-19 pandemic

Krjogja.com – JAKARTA – Cancer patients are found to be at a higher risk if they become infected with Covid-19 in the midst of a pandemic. Cancer patients can experience severity, hospitalization and even death from Covid-19.

“So exposure to COVID-19 will become more of a problem, especially in patients with blood cell cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma,” said Jeffry Beta Tenggara, consultant internal medicine specialist, hemato-oncologist. , during a webinar on the topic #ProtectThose Vulnerable fromCovid: “Can cancer patients be optimally protected against Covid-19?”, on Thursday (12/15/2022).

According to Jeffry, one of the causes of this risk is the condition of the patient’s immune response which is not sufficient to provide protection against disease or infection, one of which is the SARS-Cov-2 virus, which causes Covid-19.

Jeffry explained that the risk conditions can come from the cancer itself or from side effects of cancer therapy. The patient is currently on solid/blood cancer therapy or has a history of cancer therapy. Among others are currently receiving chemotherapy or receiving radiation therapy.

“The optimal protective measures that can be taken by cancer patients include adhering to health protocols such as wearing masks. Get primary and booster vaccines. Patients also need long-term interventions as protection is available additional for cancer patients with suboptimal vaccine responses,” he said.

On the same occasion, Estriningsih, a breast cancer survivor, admitted that her cancer treatment had been delayed for up to three weeks due to the Covid-19 infection in July 2021.

“The treatment should have been completed sooner, but the Covid infection was delayed. When I was about to undergo therapy, I was required to swab and I tested positive for Covid. Symptoms are fever, cough, runny nose and aching bones,” she said.

Aryanthi Baramuli Putri, Founder and President of the Cancer Information & Support Center (CISC) provides information and education to the public in collaboration with doctors and healthcare professionals.

“At CISC, we continue to try, according to our ability, i.e. to provide support according to our ability. With consistent and correct information, patients will hopefully be able to get a quality medical diagnosis and treatment,” she added. (Ati)