Cancer patients – one of the groups at high risk for infection coronavirus infection and severe disease and fatal outcomes. Treatment even more depresses their immune system, which is already shattered by the tumor. According to one Chinese study, people with cancer during coronavirus infection the mortality rate is about 3.5 times higher. But there is promising research for patients with prostate cancer: European society for medical Oncology published the latest evidence that patients who receive hormonal therapy for this disease, less likely to become infected with the “crown”.
the Study was conducted in the spring in Italy – one of the largest centers of the global pandemic. It was attended by over 4,000 people. The researchers compared the incidence of coronavirus in patients with prostate cancer receiving and not receiving hormonal (androgen-deprivation) therapy (ADT), and found that in the first case, the probability of infection and death from coronavirus infection is several times lower.
Recall that today prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men. The majority of patients with prostate cancer older than 65 years, making them even more vulnerable to the “crown”. However, even in case of infection COVID-19 anticancer therapy must not be interrupted. And she, in turn, weakens the immune system, which can lead to severe complications, including the use of a ventilator.
Onco-urologists have developed recommendations for the treatment of prostate cancer in the period of the pandemic. As explained by the President of the Russian society of Onco-urologists, member-correspondent of the RAS Vsevolod Matveev, in case the patient became ill COVID-19, are requested to delay chemotherapy, and to reduce the risk of infection to use medicinal treatments that do not require hospitalization and do not cause immunosuppression – that is, just the ADT. Unlike chemotherapy, which can have a negative impact on the body in General, hormonal therapy aimed at reducing blood levels of male hormones androgens and the influence of these hormones on the cancer. In addition, as found by the doctors, the use of ADT reduces the likelihood of infection and death in men from COVID-19 about 4 times.
Meanwhile, hormonal drugs today has become the focus of attention of doctors in the world – revealed that they work spectacularly well in the case of severe coronavirus infection. Turns out they have powerful anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. The head of the European who regional office for Europe Hans Kluge said that in the world there was a sensational study: small dosages of one steroid drug to the third reduces the mortality rate from coronavirus infectionstion: “This news is significant progress, she gives us hope, although the use of such drugs entails certain risks.”
“Initially, it was believed that steroid hormones under the new virus is contraindicated, since it can stimulate increased proliferation of the virus in the cell. But now they are in first place and were the main drugs that are prescribed to such patients. If you experience a critical situation of the virus in the body is already almost there and it is very important not to miss the therapeutic window for glucocorticoids administration to stop the cytokine storm. Practice shows that start taking them, such patients should be as before, not in the ICU when the storm is difficult to stop. Cytokine storm leads to major consequences, the development of fibrosis, pulmonary failure, vascular complications,” – said academician of RAS, General Director of the National medical research centre named after V. A. Almazov, President of the Russian society of cardiology Evgeny Shlyakhto.
Well, recommendations for all, first and foremost, for the cancer patients, remain attentive to health, to maintain social distance in public places, use of personal protective equipment, wash hands frequently. People with cancer need to carefully carry out appointments of the doctor, and the detection of anxiety symptoms or the deterioration in the current state – immediately seek specialized help.
