‘Harmful effect’ of pandemic emerges as clinics see patients with more advanced cancer
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
New patients arrived at cancer clinics with more advanced disease than prior to the COVID-19 pandemic as treatment postponements and deferrals subsided, according to results of a physician survey by American Society for Radiation Oncology.
“One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, radiation oncologists continue to see the harmful effect of the pandemic on our patients and the data are clear: people with cancer are facing additional burdens during these difficult times,” Thomas Eichler, MD, FASTRO, chair of ASTRO’s board of directors, said during a webinar to discuss the latest results of the yearlong national survey of radiation therapy practice leaders.
Of the 117 leaders surveyed between Jan. 15 and Feb. 7, 66% reported new patients presented with more advanced disease compared with before the pandemic, and 73% had patients who missed cancer screenings. Additionally, two-thirds (66%) of respondents said their existing patients experienced treatment interruptions because of the pandemic.
Eichler acknowledged that these rates may be higher for more vulnerable communities, such as Black and other underserved populations disproportionally harmed by cancer and the pandemic.
“The system needs to work for everyone,” Eichler said. “It is imperative that we recognize these disparities and to be mindful of health equity as we work to mitigate the harm caused by the pandemic.”
The trend toward more advanced disease at presentation does not necessarily translate to worse outcomes, due in part to newer treatments such as stereotactic radiation therapy and immunotherapy, Eichler said.
“Advanced diagnosis is not a death sentence,” Karen M. Winkfield, MD, PhD, executive director of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance and member of ASTRO’s board of directors, said during the webinar. “There are still many, many treatments that are available and we keep getting more.”
Members of the webinar panel cited survey data on safety protocols at radiation therapy clinics to encourage patients to resume regular treatment and screenings.
All survey respondents reported that they employed social distancing in the clinic, 99% had staff wearing masks routinely, 98% had patients wearing masks routinely and 97% tested staff who showed COVID-19 symptoms. Additionally, 94% screened patients at the door, 93% increased clinic sterilization, 80% had staff wearing face shields during treatment and 73% prohibited visitors.
“We were certainly seeing individuals delay coming in for radiation because of concerns related to COVID,” Winkfield said. “[But], I must reiterate, we have done a wonderful job in radiation oncology around the country in making sure our patients and our staff are safe. We have put in place safety measures that ensure individuals that are coming through those doors are safe and are not going to have significant risk related to COVID and contraction of COVID-19.”
Results of the survey, previous versions of which were conducted in April, May and June of 2020, helped illustrate the return to regular care a year after the COVID-19 pandemic began.
In April of 2020, 92% of those polled reported their clinics were deferring or postponing radiation treatments. But in the latest survey, only 15% reported deferments and postponements. Additionally, 12% reported deferring new patient visits, compared with 75% in the early stages of the pandemic.
Many respondents (42%) reported continued shortages of personal protective equipment and other crucial supplies, such as hand sanitizer, at the beginning of this year. Nearly three-quarters of clinics (72%) reduced staff because of the pandemic, but all radiation therapy networks remained open and only 7% closed satellite locations, according to the survey.
Shelley Fuld NassoMPP, CEO of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, spoke on behalf of patients coping with cancer through the pandemic. She encouraged anyone with symptoms to advocate for themselves and seek treatment.
Nasso acknowledged the next challenge many of these individuals face: getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
“[Although] we’re hoping the increased supply and lowering the eligibility age will help ... I’m very concerned about older patients who don’t know how to navigate the technology to sign up, or people who may not have access to the technology they need to sign up, or people who are shut-ins and don’t leave their homes,” Nasso said. “That’s a big concern for us and has been a big concern for many [patients with cancer]. I hope it’s improving. But unfortunately, we don’t have the data we’d like to see to verify that.”
References:
COVID-19 and Radiation Oncology: Results of a national physician survey. Presented at: COVID-19 & Cancer Care Media Briefing (virtual meeting). March 30, 2021.
ASTRO COVID-19 Practice Response Survey. Available at: www.astro.org/ASTRO/media/ASTRO/News%20and%20Publications/PDFs/ASTRO_COVID19Survey_2021.pdf. Accessed April 2, 2021.
Collapse
COVID-19 and Radiation Oncology: Results of a national physician survey. Presented at: COVID-19 & Cancer Care Media Briefing (virtual meeting); March 30, 2021.
Read more about
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts