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The COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A Rapid Global response for Children with Cancer from SIOP, COG, SIOP-E, SIOP-PODC, IPSO, PROS, CCI and St Jude Global
  • +16
  • Michael Sullivan,
  • Eric Bouffet,
  • Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo,
  • Sandra Luna-Fineman,
  • Muhammad Saghir Khan,
  • Pam Kearns,
  • Douglas S. Hawkins,
  • Julia Challinor,
  • Lisa Morrissey,
  • Jörg Fuchs,
  • Karen Marcus,
  • Adriana Balduzzi,
  • Luisa Basset-Salom,
  • Miguela Caniza,
  • Justin N. Baker,
  • Rejin Kebudi,
  • Laila Hessissen,
  • Richard Sullivan,
  • Kathy Pritchard-Jones
Michael Sullivan

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Eric Bouffet
Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo
Sandra Luna-Fineman
Muhammad Saghir Khan
Pam Kearns
Douglas S. Hawkins
Julia Challinor
Lisa Morrissey
Jörg Fuchs
Karen Marcus
Adriana Balduzzi
Luisa Basset-Salom
Miguela Caniza
Justin N. Baker
Rejin Kebudi
Laila Hessissen
Richard Sullivan
Kathy Pritchard-Jones
University College London
Author Profile

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most serious global challenges to delivering affordable and equitable treatment to children with cancer we have witnessed in the last few decades. This Special Report aims to summarise general principles for continuing multi-disciplinary care during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic. With contributions from the leadership of the International Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOP), Children’s Oncology Group (COG), St Jude Global programme and Childhood Cancer International, we have sought to provide a framework for healthcare teams caring for children with cancer during the pandemic. We anticipate the burden will fall particularly heavily on children, their families and cancer services in low- and middle- income countries. Therefore, we have brought together the relevant clinical leads from SIOP- Europe, COG and SIOP-PODC (Pediatric Oncology in Developing Countries) to focus on the six most curable cancers that are part of the WHO Global Initiative in Childhood Cancer. We provide some practical advice for adapting diagnostic and treatment protocols for children with cancer during the pandemic, the measures taken to contain it (e.g. extreme social distancing) and how to prepare for the anticipated recovery period.