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.