close
Radiotherapy should not be postponed or interrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This also includes brachytherapy in the form of HDR afterloading. The Working Group for Radiological Oncology (ARO) and the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) point this out in a recent statement.
Cancer patients are presumably more susceptible to a severe course of Covid-19 and are therefore afraid of infection during oncological treatment. In addition, according to Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn, unnecessary medical interventions should be postponed if possible. "However, patients receiving oncological treatment cannot do this without further ado," states the German Society of Radiation Oncology. Discontinuing cancer therapy, e.g. radiotherapy, hormone treatment or chemotherapy, or postponing it for weeks or even months, could mean risking a relapse of the tumor disease.
In the opinion of DEGRO, the provision of cancer patients with necessary, possibly life-saving therapies should therefore be maintained. In some cases, however, consideration could be given to making changes to the therapy regime (course of treatment). For example, it is possible for patients with prostate cancer to undergo hormone therapy first and then irradiate the tumor later. The changed treatment sequence does not lead to a loss of survival and could be useful in the current situation so that patients have to undergo treatment less frequently, according to the statement. Individual consultation with the patient is essential here.
At the same time, the DEGRO advises patients to take increased safety precautions. While radiotherapy itself does not mean an increased risk of infection for the patient, it is important that the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute and the local hygiene commissions are followed, e.g. that patients maintain the necessary distance of 1.5-2 m from other people and that hand hygiene is taken seriously.
In the event of a fever, cough, flu-like symptoms or contact with a Covid-19 patient, it is essential to contact the doctor in charge by telephone so that they can discuss the next steps with the patient. The focus here is on protecting both the patient and the staff. Even if a patient tests positive for coronavirus, this does not necessarily mean that treatment must be discontinued immediately. The DEGRO emphasizes that the risks and benefits must then be weighed up on a patient-by-patient basis.
