Lung cancer and COVID-19

Abstract

Patients with cancer are more susceptible to an infection during the viral epidemic owing to theirimmunocompromised status. Furthermore, mortality was found to be higher in patients diagnosed withcancer infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‑2 (SARS‑CoV‑2). It is a problemmanaging a process including diagnosis, staging, and treatment for patients with lung cancer. Theclinical symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) patients and lung cancer patients areeasy to be confused, which will bring great difficulties to the differential diagnosis. Management ofpatients with cancer at home should be encouraged. This includes telemedicine and phone calls toreplace safety visits, as well as replacement of intravenous drugs with oral drugs where possible, alongwith substructure and coordination to allow home administration of intravenous and subcutaneousanticancer agents. By giving priority to the centers designated as corona‑free, the consultation amongphysicians should be carried out online, and the diagnosis and treatment process of the patientsshould be continued in a way to minimize the risk of virus transmission. Patients should be evaluatedduring coronavirus pandemic for antitumor treatment with considering clinical status, stage of cancer,and status of suspected or confirmed COVID‑19 infection.