Corresponding Author:
Eric Adjei Boakye, PhD
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Department of Population Science and Policy
201 E. Madison Street, P. O. Box 19664
Springfield, IL 62794
Phone: 217-545-8511
Email:
eadjeiboakye49@siumed.edu
Word count: 1,100
Conflict of Interest: None
Funding Sources: None
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause
of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has been declared a pandemic by
the World Health Organization1 and is having
repercussions throughout our healthcare system and society. National
projections suggest that incidence and mortality of people with COVID-19
infection is going to significantly increase. Appropriately, much
attention has been paid to addressing the acute challenges associated
with caring for the surge of critically ill patients. This includes
shortages of testing and personal protective equipment (PPE) for
healthcare providers and inability of the healthcare system to handle
the influx of patients. The pandemic is placing strains on our
healthcare system and impacting patients who are seeking care for the
infection and other urgent and emergent medical conditions. However,
what has received less attention is the need for continuing, but perhaps
nonurgent, care for non-COVID-19 patients with chronic conditions such
as cancer. As our longer-term response to the pandemic evolves, we must
purposefully consider such patients.
The impact of pandemic response interventions across society are
significant, with social distancing becoming the norm, many states
entering a ‘lockdown’ condition, and millions of people becoming
unemployed. This situation is particularly troubling for cancer
survivors and their caregivers as the survivors have continuing care
needs and both they and their caregivers already face burdens associated
with diminished income, reduced social contact and support, and
increased risk for anxiety and depression. A recent study in China by
Liang et al. indicated that patients with cancer may be at a higher risk
of both COVID-19 itself and subsequent adverse health
outcomes.2 These impacts may be particularly
disproportionate a) in rural areas, already experiencing paucities of
material, care, and financial resources, and b) among head and neck
cancer (HNC) survivors, who already face increased levels of isolation
and depression associated with their cancer and treatment outcomes (e.g.
disfigurement, increased daily care requirements). We urge purposeful
consideration of COVID-19 responses in view of the special circumstances
faced by HNC survivors, especially those residing in rural areas.