Dr. McKay on Adapting Treatment for Patients With Cancer in COVID-19 Era

Rana R. McKay, MD, assistant professor of medicine and medical oncologist at the University of California, San Diego, discusses adapting treatment for patients with cancer during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Despite the widespread impact of COVID-19 on the world, limited data regarding the impact of the virus on treatment patterns in oncology have emerged, says McKay. Instead, treatment decisions for patients with cancer have predominantly been based on indirect scientific data, anecdotal evidence, and expert opinions.

Initial reports regarding COVID-19 appear to show that patients with cancer are more susceptible to the complications of the virus in terms of mortality and morbidity, concludes McKay.