Cancerworld Magazine
  • About the Magazine
    • Editorial Team
    • Leadership and Management
    • Events
    • Magazine
    • Archive
    • Contacts
  • Articles
    • Policy
    • Practice Points
    • Delivery of Care
    • Biology basic
    • Medicine
    • Featured
  • Contents
    • News
    • Editorials
    • Interviews to the Expert
    • In the Hot Seat
    • Profiles
    • Obituaries
    • Voices
    • Partnership
    • Supported contents
  • Media Corner
    • Journalist Cancer Guide
    • Cancer Journalism Award
    • Cancer Journalist Grant
SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Cancerworld Magazine
Cancerworld Magazine
  • About the Magazine
    • Editorial Team
    • Leadership and Management
    • Events
    • Magazine
    • Archive
    • Contacts
  • Articles
    • Policy
    • Practice Points
    • Delivery of Care
    • Biology basic
    • Medicine
    • Featured
  • Contents
    • News
    • Editorials
    • Interviews to the Expert
    • In the Hot Seat
    • Profiles
    • Obituaries
    • Voices
    • Partnership
    • Supported contents
  • Media Corner
    • Journalist Cancer Guide
    • Cancer Journalism Award
    • Cancer Journalist Grant
Cancerworld Magazine > News > COVID-19: ECCO demands attention to protect cancer patients
  • News

COVID-19: ECCO demands attention to protect cancer patients

  • 17 March 2020
  • Editorial Staff
COVID-19: ECCO demands attention to protect cancer patients
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
0
0

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a significant threat for cancer patients, which deserve to be protected through immediate action on several levels all over Europe, according to a statement published today by the European Cancer Organisation (ECCO).

Matti Aapro, President of the European Cancer Organisation, referred specifically to the shortage of materials that are key to delivering quality of care to patients: “This includes reports of shortages of face masks, respiratory devices and sanitising product. Resolving these shortages must be at the highest level of attention for all governmental structures for pandemic management at this time” he said.

The statement on COVID-19 is addressed to the public, to national governments and to the European Union at all levels.

Citizens are invited to take their personal responsibilities very seriously: “Every one of us has a responsibility to each other to respect official advice at this time” reads the document. “COVID-19 is a test of our abilities as individuals, organisations and countries to cooperate and share information with each other effectively. We urge all to continue to rise to this challenge.”

This can also help protect persons who are particularly vulnerable, like older people with underlying health conditions such as chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and cancer that is not cured or in remission.

ECCO’s document lists specific cases:

  • People having chemotherapy, or who have received chemotherapy in the last 3 months;
  • People having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer;
  • People having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors;
  • People having intensive (radical) radiotherapy for lung cancer;
  • People who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs;
  • People with some types of blood cancer which damage the immune system, even if they have not needed treatment (for example, chronic leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma).

National and European decision-makers are responsible for addressing the shortage of core materials needed for providing sustained, safe and high quality cancer care: “This includes face masks, respiratory support devices and some sanitising products, such as hand disinfectant. For the present time, we understand that where such shortage situations are occurring, health systems are creating means of managing the situation by redistribution of such supplies from lower risk settings to priority areas, such as intensive care and oncology units. However” the statement reads “any further diminishment of supply threatens to considerably compromise quality of care for cancer patients and others”.

For cancer patients who are undergoing active treatment (chemotherapy, radiation or surgery) and who known to be at an elevated risk for complications from the COVID-19 infection, the European Cancer Organisation demands that the following procedures are put in place as soon as possible:

  • Prompt screening of patients in care for COVID-19;
  • Rigorous implementation of guidelines across the health system in respect to such matters as quarantining and maintenance of high standards in hygiene;
  • Continuous, clear and high quality communication to healthcare professionals and the public about the ongoing situation.

ECCO also calls for support “to preserve the vital educational activity of Europe’s scientific, healthcare professional and patient association sector in the wake of the major disruption being prompted by COVID-19”, which might be attenuated through targeted relief measures for economic redress.

The European Cancer Organisation is an umbrella federation of 28 European and international level societies working with 17 patient advocacy organisations to improve cancer care and outcomes in all countries.

Read the full statement.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • cancer patients
  • coronavirus
  • covid-19
  • ECCO
  • European Cancer Organisation
  • pandemic
  • statement
Editorial Staff

Previous Article
  • News

Can we still rely on Omega-3 & Co. for cancer prevention and management?

  • 16 March 2020
  • Cristina Ferrario
View Post
Next Article
  • Supported contents

Improving efficiency in cancer care: a multidisciplinary challenge 

  • 17 March 2020
  • Editorial Staff
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • News

Study highlights need to reanalyse genomics and genetics of metastatic tumours

  • Janet Fricker
  • 27 January 2023
View Post
  • News

Current cervical cancer screening paradigm fails older women

  • Janet Fricker
  • 26 January 2023
View Post
  • News

Call-to-arms for Europe to provide essential paediatric anti-cancer medicines

  • Janet Fricker
  • 9 January 2023
View Post
  • News

Exercise-stimulated myokine production can extend survival in advanced prostate cancer

  • Janet Fricker
  • 9 January 2023
View Post
  • News

Five San Antonio take-aways to improve care of breast cancer patients

  • Janet Fricker
  • 16 December 2022
View Post
  • News

Repurposed drug combination reduces risk of recurrence following surgery for colorectal cancer

  • Janet Fricker
  • 16 December 2022
View Post
  • News

Aerobic activity to outcompete metastasis 

  • Janet Fricker
  • 2 December 2022
View Post
  • News

Ending cancer inequalities: European summit showcases new tools to inform policy

  • Anna Wagstaff
  • 30 November 2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

search
or search in Cancerworld archive
Newsletter

Subscribe free to
Cancerworld!

We'll keep you informed of the latest features and news with a fortnightly email

Subscribe now
Latest News
  • Study highlights need to reanalyse genomics and genetics of metastatic tumours
    • 27 January 2023
  • Current cervical cancer screening paradigm fails older women
    • 26 January 2023
  • Call-to-arms for Europe to provide essential paediatric anti-cancer medicines
    • 9 January 2023
  • Exercise-stimulated myokine production can extend survival in advanced prostate cancer
    • 9 January 2023
  • Five San Antonio take-aways to improve care of breast cancer patients
    • 16 December 2022
Article
  • The cancer patients still struggling to access drugs in the wake of anti-corruption reforms
    • 27 January 2023
  • Immunotherapy: outcomes of ultra low-dose trial offer hope for better global access
    • 26 January 2023
  • Cervical cancer elimination efforts boosted by simpler ways to identify and treat pre-cancerous lesions
    • 12 January 2023
Latest printed issue
Social

Would you follow us ?

Contents
  • AI in Genomics and Reporting for Clinical Practice
    • 26 January 2023
  • Telemedicine in Cancer Care: Monitoring, Follow-Up,Tele-Rehabilitation, Palliative and Supportive Care
    • 23 January 2023
  • AI application in diagnosis
    • 11 January 2023
MENU
  • About the Magazine
    • Editorial Team
    • Leadership and Management
    • Events
    • Magazine
    • Archive
    • Contacts
  • Articles
    • Policy
    • Practice Points
    • Delivery of Care
    • Biology basic
    • Medicine
    • Featured
  • Contents
    • News
    • Editorials
    • Interviews to the Expert
    • In the Hot Seat
    • Profiles
    • Obituaries
    • Voices
    • Partnership
    • Supported contents
  • Media Corner
    • Journalist Cancer Guide
    • Cancer Journalism Award
    • Cancer Journalist Grant
Cancerworld Magazine
  • About the Magazine
  • Articles
  • Media Corner
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Cancerworld is funded by SPCC Sharing Progress in Cancer Care | Via Vincenzo Vela 6, 6500 Bellinzona - Switzerland | info@spcc.net

Archivio Cancerworld

Input your search keywords and press Enter.