COVID-19 Resources for Cancer Patients, Survivors & Families/Caregivers
April 17, 2020
During this time of uncertainty, the ORIEN Patient Advisory Council has organized a list of COVID-19 resources for cancer patients. This list of links to select high-quality sites and articles offers a starting point for sorting through the surge of recommended resources. You may find this helpful for your patients. Please feel free to share. Thank you for your continued commitment to patients.
For people dealing with cancer, the COVID-19 pandemic adds new stresses and challenges. This list of links to select high-quality sites and articles offers a starting point for sorting through the surge of recommended resources. Reliable information is key to making wise decisions about every aspect of life.
Understanding COVID-19 During and After Cancer Treatment
https://www.cancer.gov/contact/emergency-preparedness/coronavirus
The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), provides COVID-19 information on what people with cancer should know about COVID-19, including how to protect yourself and what to do if you think you have symptoms. The NCI also offers its Cancer Information Service (CIS) to ask information specialists your questions over the telephone regarding COVID-19 or your cancer care:
- 1-800-4-CANCER / 1-800-422-6237
- Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET
- English and Spanish
https://www.cancer.org/about-us/what-we-do/coronavirus-covid-19-and-cancer.html
The American Cancer Society (ACS) provides information to assist with common COVID-19 questions, such as what to ask your healthcare team, why cancer patients can be more at risk for the virus, and which special precautions should cancer patients take, if any. The ACS also provides a 24-hour helpline at 1-800-227-2345
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) offers Cancer.Net—an online patient resource for cancer patients and caregivers that now offers general information on COVID-19. The information is provided in English and Spanish.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), America’s leading science-based, data-driven organization for protecting the nation’s health, offers general COVID-19 information, from how to protect yourself from the virus to what to do if you think you’re sick. It includes a useful tool to check for symptoms.
Understanding COVID-19 in Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Cancer Survivors
https://together.stjude.org/en-us/care-support/covid-19-resources.html
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital offers information on how to talk to your child about COVID-19 (including a free downloadable coloring book), how to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and what COVID-19 means for children with weakened immune systems and for childhood cancer survivors.
The International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group published this statement to provide guidance to childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer survivors about their risk of serious illness from COVID-19 and recommended additional preventive measures.
http://www.survivorshipguidelines.org/
The Children’s Oncology Group Long-Term Follow-Up Guidelines added a Health Link page devoted to information about COVID-19 and actions to take to reduce risk of infection.
Decision Making and Managing Stress During the Pandemic
Patient Handout: Managing the Stress of the Covid-19 Pandemic
A physician-survivor reviews factors that increase the risk of complications of COVID-19, explains the connection between cancer and immunodeficiency, and offers insights and tips for managing the anxiety associated with your risk.
Patient Handout: Making Wise Decisions During the Pandemic
A physician-survivor addresses how everyday decisions are affected by your personal risk of COVID-19 and the current stress on healthcare systems, and offers insights and tips on when to call the doctor.
https://mhanational.org/covid19#FinancialSupport
Mental Health America provides an abundance of information, including mental health information for disease outbreaks, tools to assist with anxiety, and links to financial resources.
The American Society for Nutrition provides information on maintaining health and nutrition during COVID-19.
You can download our COVID-19 resource list for cancer patients here.