Novel strategies for management of cancer in the COVID-19 era
Novel strategies are needed to change current side-effects of the
COVID-19 pandemic on biomedical and cancer research practices as well as
health care53,54, for example, a mounting mental
health crisis55. And scientists and clinicians should
know about the importance of public engagement with
science56. Currently, a detailed plan should be
prepared for cancer care and treatment during
Covid-1957. For example, as simple public measures,
wearing cloth masks and keeping social isolation are needed for against
the risk for a potential Covid-19 exposure and prevention of
Covid-1958,59. However, there were more common of
cancelled medical care and cancer screening during
Covid-1960. Thus, we should have appropriate
allocation of limited health care resources.25 Current
short-term follow-up showed that a considerable prevalence of
neurocognitive impairment, psychiatric morbidity and poor QOL in
Covid-19 survivors61, but there are no data on whether
these patients will suffer from cancer in the future.
Proudly, a general formula for management of mNCDs or a healthy and
longevity equivalence and a standardized comprehensive iRT-ABCDEF
program for cancer had already been setup62,63. Since
major risk factors related to unhealthy lifestyle highly link to cancer
and other mNCDs (CVD, diabetes, chronic respiratory or renal disease,
neurodegenerative or mental disease), healthy
“environment-sleep-emotion-exercise-diet” intervention [E(e)SEEDi]
lifestyle is very helpful to human health. As a novel and magic
“polypills”64, it’s worthy of conduction for
universal health coverage. For example, as a healthy lifestyle, the
olive oil consumption is beneficial to human health, and particularly
for the prevention of mNCDs (CVD, diabetes, and cancer) and inflammation
including SARS-CoV-2 infection65, and higher olive oil
intake was associated with lower risk of total and cause-specific
mortality66. Newly, the scientists in the US developed
a noninvasive treatment platform for diverse cancer
types67, it’s helpful to many patients.
There are similarities in risk for both COVID-19 and cancer disparities
due to socioeconomic disadvantages, level of education, lifestyle
factors, health comorbidities, and limited access to medical
care68. And there are low anxiety and deteriorating
mental health among patients with cancer during the COVID-19
pandemic69. On the one hand, delays in surgery may
result in extensive psychosocial distress70. On the
other hand, the proportion over-due for cancer screening is
increasing71. Thus, innovative early detection and
diagnosis, and timely and appropriate therapy for cancer are vital
measures for the secondary prevention of cancer in the COVID-19
pandemic72.
It’s also important steps by the prioritization of oncological surgical
care and the allocation of resources during the COVID-19
pandemic73. In addition, lifestyle modification
(dietary supplementation and regular physical exercise) is effective in
treatment outcomes, quality of life, and overall survival in cancer
patients with COVID-1974. Moreover, clinical decision
support systems75 and web-based lifestyle
interventions76,77 for cancer survivors are a
promising treatment option due to being both affordable and accessible.
Despite challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the home-based
vegetable gardening program is feasible, well-received, and may result
in increased V and F consumption among cancer
survivors78.