Insights into the Impact of Hesitancy on Cancer Care and COVID-19

Abstract

World Health Organization findings indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected cancer diagnosis and management. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the optimal management of outpatient appointments, scheduled treatments, and hospitalizations for cancer patients because of hesitancy among patients and health-care providers. Travel restrictions and other factors likely affected medical, surgical, and radiation treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cancer patients were more likely to be affected by severe illness and complications if they contracted COVID-19. A compromised immune system and comorbidities in cancer patients may have contributed to this increased risk. Hesitancy or reluctance to receive appropriate therapy or vaccination advice might have played a major role for cancer patients, resulting in health-care deficits. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on screening, entry into clinical trials, and hesitancy among patients and health-care professionals, limiting adjuvant and metastatic cancer treatment.

Infectious diseases prophylaxis and treatment in cancer patients, with particular emphasis on COVID-19. Interdisciplinary Polish experts' position statement

“…Diagnosis of cancer is a rough emotional experience and may distract patients from the implementation of prophylactic measures, including vaccinations [58,59]. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic hampered cancer treatment and appropriate prevention implementation [60]. The patient should be clearly informed that infection may affect anticancer treatment.…”