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Review
. 2021 Feb;17(1):24-28.
doi: 10.1111/ajco.13456. Epub 2020 Sep 7.

Radiation oncology during COVID-19: Strategies to avoid compromised care

Patrick J Horsley  1 , Michael Back  1   2 , Gillian Lamoury  1 , Brian Porter  1 , Jeremy Booth  1   3 , Thomas N Eade  1
Affiliations
Review

Radiation oncology during COVID-19: Strategies to avoid compromised care

Patrick J Horsley et al. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic will present a range of challenges to radiation oncology departments. Early data suggest that cancer patients carry a higher than average, but still low absolute risk of hospitalization from COVID-19. The risk of severe events for those who are hospitalized however, is high. Resources for usual cancer care will likely be limited. Decisions to alter, delay or omit treatment during this period should consider both the risk of the cancer and of COVID-19 to the patient, as well as resource constraints. There is a need for departments to adapt with goals of maintaining an uninterrupted, high quality service and of minimizing compromise to oncologic care.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; cancer; radiation oncology; radiotherapy.

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References

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