MENUHow the Rogel Cancer Center is Responding to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
To assist our patients during the stress and uncertainty of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Rogel Cancer Center offers updates, support for anxiety and stress, what cancer patients need to know and how to support our frontline staff.
Important Updates from Michigan Medicine
Read about how the Rogel Cancer Center and Michigan Medicine are keeping patients safe during this time.
For the latest information about COVID-19 and guidelines for patients, please visit Michigan Medicine’s coronavirus web pages.
Location Changes
In order to limit exposure for our patients, their families, and our staff, we have made several adjustments at our outpatient clinics, and many of our clinics are scaling back operations temporarily. This means that non-essential appointments may be rescheduled, or, in many cases, turned into Video Visits or E-Visits.
If you have questions about appointments, you may:
- Call your clinic phone number. All clinics are still accessible by telephone.
- Send your provider team messages through the Patient Portal.
Most of the location changes are no longer in effect.
Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Whether you have a cancer diagnosis or care for someone with a cancer diagnosis, this is a stressful, concerning time. The routines of our lives have been seriously changed, creating stress and even fear. The Rogel Cancer Center's Patient and Family Support Services has developed resources and tools that may help during this time, such as:
- Stress and Anxiety Management
this booklet provides stress reducing techniques, exercises and links to other online resources such as websites and apps. - Easing Stress Using Guided Imagery
a video series walking you through five different stress-relieving meditations - Cancer and Anxiety: Wasted Time and Energy
an article with advice and tips on relieving anxiety, with links to other helpful resources - How to access support groups / support online
although Rogel Cancer Center support groups are on hiatus during this time, there are other local and national organizations offering online options. - Music Therapy
music therapy is the use of music intervention to meet the physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs of an individual - Guided Imagery Podcast Library
a collection of MP3 files intended to help the ease stress and anxiety coming from cancer diagnosis and treatment.
For more articles and information about easing stress and anxiety during this time, please visit the Michigan Medicine Health blog site.
What cancer patients need to know about protecting themselves against COVID-19
Some types of cancer and treatments such as chemotherapy can weaken your immune system and may increase your risk of any infection, including the virus that causes COVID-19. During chemotherapy, there will be times in your treatment cycle when you are at increased risk of infection.
Adults and children with serious chronic health conditions, including cancer, are at higher risk of developing more serious complications from contagious illnesses such as COVID-19.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends actions to help keep people at high risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19 healthy in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, including:
- Get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.
- Talk to your cancer doctor to learn if you should get the third dose of the vaccine.
- Stay home as much as possible
- Make sure you have access to several weeks of medication and supplies in case you need to stay home for prolonged periods of time
- When you do go out in public, avoid crowds
- Avoid cruise ship travel and nonessential air travel
More information is also available on the National Cancer Institute’s COVID-19 information page.
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