I hope none of the campaign supporters mind but I wanted to use this platform to spread a message regarding cancer patients and Covid-19.
Firstly, if you have received a text (or letter) from the Government advising that you are considered to be "vulnerable" or "exceptionally vulnerable" and therefore should self-isolate for 12 weeks, SELF-ISOLATE! Please don't phone your hospital to ask "is this right?". 1.5 million texts and letters have been sent out. If even 10% phone to check, the NHS will grind to a halt. I have a friend who works at a London hospital and the phone lines are lit up with questions about Covid. Hospitals are still desperately trying to plan treatments and prioritise and they will contact you. If you are self-isolating you can still attend hospital appointments. I appreciate self-isolation may be really tough if you are caring for others or living alone but there is a Government website you can register with if you REALLY need help. The link in the text you have received will take you to it. If in doubt, self-isolate.
If you have had treatment for cancer within the last 12-24 months, consider yourself vulnerable. Why? Chemotherapy can suppress your immune system. If you've had chemo, you will be tested for low neutrophils before each chemo cycle. This is not the same test as testing your whole immune system once you are out of treatment. You may have finished chemo but it can take time for your immune system to kick back in - some studies suggest 6 months and others even longer. I am almost 4 years out of chemotherapy and I can categorically tell you that my immune system is low and still compromised. It's an unknown for most people so if in doubt, assume you need to self-isolate.
Next and perhaps more importantly - some hospitals (more so at the moment in London and surrounding areas) are cancelling all cancer treatments for 2 weeks (which will be reviewed on a continual basis) because of the influx of patients with Covid-19. Other hospitals are cutting short the number of chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions and they have been advised how to prioritise cases. Lots of cancer patients are going to be worried sick by this, rightly so. However, there is absolutely nothing we can do to stop this happening but there are several things we can do:
1. If you are at one of the hospitals that is cutting short chemo/radiotherapy sessions and you have breast cancer (and this may be applicable to other types of cancer also), can surgery be brought forward? If the tumour is out, that's one hurdle you've got over. At the moment, surgery is still taking place at most hospitals. Unfortunately this won't apply with the hospitals that have stopped providing cancer treatments in the short term but the next point might apply.
2. Perhaps ask if it's possible to switch to an oral chemotherapy that you can take at home. In some cases this MAY be possible and will alleviate time and pressure off the NHS.
3. If your chemotherapy or radiotherapy has been cut short, bear in mind that any chemotherapy you've had is good and hopefully will have done its job. In some cases it may be possible to start it again (if you're within an 8 week window sometimes longer). Your team will advise you. Think of it like this ...... if you are ill during chemotherapy and it has to be cancelled until you are well again, it is possible in most cases to re-start chemo treatments. The longest I have heard this happen is 11 weeks (for a triple negative breast cancer) and chemo WAS re-started. So essentially what we are going through now is an enforced break.
If you are attending hospital, arrive on time, tell them you're there and then wait in your car rather than the waiting area. Lots of hospitals are set up for this and will text you when they're ready to see you. ALSO please don't take anybody inside the hospital with you. It puts you, the NHS staff and your friend/partner at increased risk. Remember some people are carriers of Covid-19 and won't even be aware of it.
Lastly, and I can't believe I'm writing this, I was horrified by images of people on the London Tube yesterday. Crammed in like sardines. What on earth were you thinking? Yes I know people have to go to work but seriously, send a photo of the packed tube train to your employer and say you'll be in later when the rush hour has died down. Ask your employer if working hours can be spread out. You are putting yourself and others at risk. Covid-19 can travel up to 2 metres from one cough. Social distancing will help to solve this crisis but only if everybody does it. That means, imagine a very tall man laying on the floor. That's the space that you need between yourself and the next person.
Keep self-isolating and keep social distancing. We WILL get through this but it won't be fun for any of us. We just need to knuckle down and accept it. Please stay safe everybody.