MENUCancer Treatment in the Time of COVID-19
Media contact: Ian Demsky, 734-764-2220 | Patients may contact Cancer AnswerLine, 800-865-1125
Patient reflections on new challenges and compassionate care
Going through treatment for cancer can be scary on its own. Now, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, patients at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center -- and cancer centers across the country -- are facing additional challenges.
For example, to prevent patients and their families from potential exposure to the coronavirus, many patients must now go alone to appointments where they may get unwelcome news, or to treatments, like chemotherapy infusions, without a companion at their side.
Several of our patients have been sharing their thoughts on social media about adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic. With their permission, we’re sharing some of their reflections and feelings here.
“I have chemotherapy tomorrow,” patient Logan Moore posted to Facebook recently. “I received a call informing me that I’m not allowed to bring a companion with me, that I must come all alone. I know this is being done for the safety of everyone and I respect that, but it broke my heart a bit. I actually wasn’t planning on anyone coming with me. I’ve done this long enough it’s not a big deal, but I think about the people just starting this journey. How scared they are because of what’s happening in the world, how scared they are to be dealing with cancer, and then being told they have to do it all alone.”
In an exchange after her infusion, Moore, who shared her story of balancing cancer treatment and parenting in the fall issue of Thrive magazine, adds: “One thing I will say is that even though I wasn’t able to have my mother with me (my usual infusion companion) I could tell the nurses and staff went above and beyond their typical, wonderful, compassionate attitude and really went out of their way to make sure I felt comfortable and as if I wasn’t alone at all.”
The Rev. Dr. Stacey Simpson Duke, whose reflections on living with a stage 4 diagnosis recently appeared on the Michigan Health Blog, shared these thoughts on Facebook:
“Today, I spent 7 hours at the hospital - arrived at 7:00am for CT scans and left at 2:00pm when my infusion was done - for my 22nd cycle of dacarbazine, 30th cycle of chemo, and 44th infusion overall. Thank you for your ongoing concern and prayer for me in the midst of all else.
“Over the weekend, Michigan Medicine updated their policy so that every person entering the hospital wears a mask, which was a great relief to me…
“The Cancer Center was a ghost town - only 1 other patient waiting for a CT, 2 other patients waiting for blood work (there are usually around 30 whenever I'm there), no other patients waiting in the sarcoma clinic waiting room, and 2 other patients in the infusion clinic waiting room (no visitors allowed in that clinic now). For infusion, they spread us out from each other as well. This was all a relief to me in terms of my own risk of exposure, but I do feel concerned for those patients whose scans or treatments have been delayed.”
Following national guidelines and best practices, Rogel Cancer Center providers are adjusting cancer treatments in light of the threat posed by the novel coronavirus. Our care teams are making the best recommendations to provide the most beneficial treatment while also reducing the risk posed by the virus.
Duke concludes: “It felt like a really long day, and so surreal. Every single staff person I dealt with at the hospital - whether security staff, nurses, phlebotomists, receptionists, techs - seemed to be showing extra care and kindness today. It was beautiful but also made me feel so keenly the sense of vulnerability all of us are experiencing.”
We welcome thoughts and comments from the community on the Rogel Cancer Facebook page and Twitter account.
Learn more about what Rogel Cancer Center is doing to help patients and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.