key: cord-0900863-amc1i0s5 authors: Patni, Nidhi; Hota, Arati; Patni, Ayushi; Misra, Pragya title: Cancer during Corona Pandemic: Plight of cancer patients when two evils join hands date: 2020-11-16 journal: Curr Probl Cancer DOI: 10.1016/j.currproblcancer.2020.100671 sha: 3002cbc1e906b14b933adee2e14f3a7f327fb6c2 doc_id: 900863 cord_uid: amc1i0s5 In the unprecedented times of Corona Pandemic (CP), each individual is facing uncertainty and stress. Presence of cancer during these times compounds the troubles. The changing scenario of consultation and treatment during pandemic, logistic issues, dwindling finances and fear are making a negative impact on the mental health of cancer patients. In a qualitative analysis conducted in a tertiary oncology hospital from 1st June to 6th July on the recently diagnosed or under treatment cancer patients. The face to face interview was conducted using a semi structured questionnaire specific to Cancer amid CP, General Anxiety Disorder Item Scale 7 and Physical Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). There were total 294 patients, mean age around 51 years with a male female ratio of 3:2, 40% were suffering from head and neck malignancy. There was a delay initiating cancer treatment in 22.4% of patients and three fourths of them attributed it to CP. Almost 80% of patients perceived that pandemic has adversely affected their treatment and 50% thought they would have had a better chance of cure. Half of our cohort stated that due to social distancing and usage of masks, there is a communication gap between them and the doctors. They also felt that now, with decreased nonverbal communication; they felt lack of empathy. 14.9% patients were more concerned about corona pandemic as compared to malignancy. This study is about the challenges and perspective of cancer patients during the CP. It indicates a need for more systematic and patient friendly approach by the regulatory authorities, hospital management and staff. Timely intervention of those under stress is recommended more frequently during CP. COVID-19 has affected the globe since December 2019 by causing infection, morbidity, mor-2 tality; mental ailments due to medical, social, and financial issues; delay in the diagnosis and 3 treatment of non COVID illnesses. Since we are encountering this epidemic for the first time, 4 there are many uncertainties for obvious reasons. 5 Many clinical oncology associations of repute have issued recommendations for managing 6 malignancy during COVID-19. [1] [2] [3] [4] Cancer, one of the worst maladies, leads to a myriad of psy-7 chological issues -denial, self-pity, guilt, change in interpersonal relationships, loss of job, self-8 image, fear of lifelong morbidity, fear of death, managing logistics of treatment, and prolonged 9 follow-up. The plight of cancer patients has further increased due to the ongoing COVID-19. A 10 lot has been said about this by the healthcare professionals and policymakers but there is no 11 first hand record of what the cancer patients are experiencing during this pandemic to the best 12 of our knowledge. Considering the pervasive and diverse effect COVID-19 is having on cancer 13 patients, we decided to perform a systematic qualitative analysis addressing the above issue. 14 15 To assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 on recently diagnosed and under treatment 16 cancer patients at Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Jaipur. Study Design 19 This cross sectional, descriptive, and hospital based study has been conducted at the 200 20 bedded tertiary care, oncology super speciality hospital in west India after approval by Institu-21 tional Ethics Committee. 22 Random sampling method was used to collect the data. 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