According to a study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania and published in the journal of the American National Cancer Institute, people who have had cancer can have Covid-19 disease more severely.
Anadolu Medical Center Medical Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Serdar Turhal said, "In this case, individuals who have survived cancer should follow warnings such as social distance, masks and vaccination more intensely."
Within the scope of this study, Anadolu Medical Center Medical Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Çavuşoğlu pointed out that 19 of 328 patients with COVID-67 disease were diagnosed with underlying cancer, most (80%) had a history of organ cancer and that most of them (73%) were not active. Dr. Serdar Turhal said, “While the rate of hospitalization in 49 patients not receiving active cancer treatment was 29 percent; 18 percent of 55 patients who received active cancer treatment were hospitalized. Again, while the rate of hospitalization in intensive care is close to 12 percent in people who do not receive active treatment; In those who receive active treatment, this rate reaches 26 percent ”.
Cancer survivors are still in the risk group
Stating that these observations are findings that individuals who have had cancer can pass the COVID-19 infection more severely even if the disease is not active, Medical Oncologist Prof. Dr. Serdar Turhal said, “The risk of death for the first 19 days after COVID-30 is 1,6 percent for those whose cancer is inactive; 13,4 percent of those who are active. When we compare these rates with individuals without signs of cancer, we see that these rates are higher. Although the number of patients here is low, we recommend that individuals who have had cancer should follow the warnings of social distance, masks, hygiene and vaccination more closely even if the disease is not active.
