In this episode of Simplify Cancer Podcast, we talk about better ways of dealing with cancer during the pandemic, coping with uncertainty, and reducing the risk of severe infection.

This is particularly crucial in the time of COVID-19 pandemic. Our special guest is Dr Christopher Steer, a medical oncologist who specialises in helping older adults with cancer, and here is what we cover in our discussion today:

Balancing your risk of infection with need for anti-cancer therapySeparating myth from fact on boosting your immune systemFinding the better care for older adultsWhere to turn to for expect advice in this uncertain timeThe missing link of psychological care through cancerand much, much more!

LinksFull episode transcript (PDF)

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Episode Transcript:Joe:                             As a medical oncologist, I know that you are deeply involved in cancer treatment, in follow-ups, in research, in clinical trials, Christopher, what impact have you seen with the pandemic so far?

Christopher:            We have a large number of patients from regional Australia coming to receive standard chemotherapy and immunotherapy and radiation and follow-up in our centre.  Of course, patients need to travel to have their treatment to our centre.  That is the first issue.

As you may also be aware, patients with cancer tend to be older.  The average age of patients with cancer in Australia is 67 years at first diagnosis.  That means a significant number of our patients are older.  Here we have a large number of patients older, having to travel to our centre for treatment.

I would say rightly so, that because our patients are going to be at risk of more severe infection should they contract the virus.  We need to remember that we’re all at risk of contracting the virus and the only thing that we can do to prevent infection and not be infected by it is not to be infected with it.  The only thing that we can do is practice social distancing and good hygiene.  Good hand hygiene and other practices that we’re all well aware of now.  There is no prophylactic treatment.  There’s no treatment once we get it.  We need to remember that the only thing that we can do is practice good phy...