Updates for Cancer Patients and COVID-19

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As COVID-19 continues to shape our lives, the Oncology San Antonio providers and staff continue to keep safety and current CDC recommendations at the forefront of our care delivery. We understand our patients seek guidance regarding the latest COVID-19 updates, so we have provided some additional information to help you and your family stay safe through this ever-changing pandemic. 

If I have cancer now or had it in the past, am I at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19?

If you have cancer, you have a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Other factors that increase the risk for severe illness from COVID-19 include having a weakened immune system (being immunocompromised), older age, and other medical conditions.

Different cancers will have varying effects on patients. For example, people with blood cancers may be at higher risk of prolonged infection and death from COVID-19 than people with solid tumors. That is because patients with blood cancers often have abnormal or depleted levels of immune cells that produce antibodies against viruses.

Having a history of cancer may increase your risk of severe illness from COVID-19. People who have received treatment for cancer in the past should discuss their concerns about COVID-19 with their doctors.

Should I Get Vaccinated?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention recommends that everyone 12 years and older get a COVID-19 vaccine. That includes most people with underlying medical conditions, including cancer. Consult your physician if you recently received cancer treatment that suppresses the immune system, as you may need to space out treatments and the vaccine. 

Fighting cancer and fighting the spread of COVID-19 both take large support systems. We strongly suggest to our patients that their family members, loved ones, and caregivers get vaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe disease and death, including from the Delta variant. In areas where the virus is spreading quickly, wearing a mask in public indoor spaces and social distancing will also help protect vulnerable people and prevent the spread of the virus.

What about the booster shot?

For patients who are currently on chemotherapy, have had bone marrow transplants, solid organ transplants, are taking immunosuppressives, or have sickle cell disease, we recommend receiving the booster vaccine. Other chronic issues currently qualify for the Moderna and Pfizer booster, so please consult your provider for more information.

Eligible patients can receive the booster no sooner than 28-days after their 2nd vaccine. The CDC suggests receiving the brand of booster (Pfizer or Moderna) as your initial shots. Presently there isn’t data on boosters for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but we’ll provide an update when available. 

Please contact Oncology San Antonio with any questions regarding COVID-19 and your care.

What’s the Difference Between Oncology and Hematology?

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Here’s a frequently asked question about the Oncology San Antonio practice: “My Primary Care Provider (PCP) referred me to your practice for a hematology consult. Should I be worried that I may have cancer?”

Oncology San Antonio is not just the premier cancer care network in San Antonio, but also a cutting-edge hematology center. Here are a few things to know before your first hematology appointment.

  1. What is the difference between hematology and oncology?
    A hematologist is a physician trained in Internal Medicine, who has completed additional years of training, called a fellowship, to diagnose, treat, and prevent blood disorders. Examples of blood disorders include cancerous and non-cancerous diseases that can affect the individual components of blood including white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets, as well as the organs which produce them (bone marrow and spleen). There is often overlap between hematology and oncology (the study of cancer). Our physicians have completed a combined fellowship in both hematology and oncology.
  2. Does a referral to a hematologist mean I have cancer?
    No. There are many reasons why your primary care provider may refer you to see a hematologist/oncologist. Some of the most common problems that we see are blood cell counts that are too high or too low. This can be caused by many medical conditions that are unrelated to cancer.
  3. What should I expect for my first visit to the office?
    You will receive an information packet in the mail about 1-2 weeks before your appointment with our contact numbers, directions to our location, and all the New Patient forms that will need to be completed before your arrival. The more information we can gather about your health history including a complete list of all medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, the better we can create a personalized plan of care for you.
  4. Will I need to fast for my appointment?
    No. Please make sure you are well hydrated, and we encourage you to eat within a few hours of your appointment. Please also take all your normal medications that day.
    Our goal is to always provide our patients with the information and support needed to guide their healthcare choices.

  • For more information about hematology, please visit the American Society of Hematology.

    • National Mammography Day is Friday, October 20

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    National Mammography Day is Friday, October 20, 2017. It is observed on the third Friday of October every year.

    It reminds women to get mammographies and be proactive in their healthcare. Early detection is a good defense against future problems.

    Throughout the month and especially on this day, women are urged to schedule appointments and get screenings for breast cancer.

    Mammography can detect problems before there is any outward sign.

    Breastcancer.org says 1-in-8 women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer in their lives. Early detection can make all the difference in a woman’s life.

    This initiative was first announced by President Bill Clinton in 1993 and has been observed ever year since as part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

    World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is October 14

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    World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is Saturday, October 14.

    It is a worldwide day of recognition and action to raise awareness of specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses.

    Palliative care provides relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness and improve the overall quality of life for the patient and their family. Palliative care can begin at diagnosis to relieve pain, symptoms and side effects in a patient.

    Hospice care starts after treatment has stopped and it is clear that the person will not survive their illness.

    For more information about this day, visit http://www.thewhpca.org/about.

    National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day is October 13

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    Friday, October 13, 2017 is National Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Awareness Day.

    The day was established by the U.S. House and Senate in 2009 as an annual observance on October 13.

    This is breast cancer which has spread to other parts of the body (metastasized) to most likely the lungs, liver, bones or brain. This is also known as Stage IV cancer.

    Early detection through screenings is a possibly useful tool to detect breast cancer.

    For more information on this day and metastatic breast cancer, please visit http://www.mbcn.org/october-13-national-metastatic-breast-cancer-awareness-day/

     

    October 11 is the Day of the Girl

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    On December 19, 2011, the United Nations passed Resolution 66/170 creating the International Day of the Girl Child.

    It is commemorated every year on October 11.

    In the US, this is known as the Day of the Girl and this year it is on Wednesday, October 11.

    It supports the health, opportunities, equality and safety against exploitation for the 1.1 billion girls in the world.

    http://www.dayofthegirl.org/

    Take A Loved One to the Doctor Day is September 19

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    Next Tuesday, September 19 is Take A Loved One to the Doctor Day.

    It is a reminder to take charge of your health and to help your loved ones by encouraging them to do the same. Someone you know might not be getting the professional, medical advise and help they need.

    Talk to them, see how they are doing and schedule an appointment for them. Follow-up with them and their physician after the visit to see how the person you care about is doing and what can be done to make them better. Motivate them to be conscientious of their own health and do the same for yourself.

    Regular checkups from your doctor can help make sure you stay healthy along with being active and having a healthy diet. People over 50 should see a doctor at least once a year.

    Tom Joyner (of the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show) and the US Department of Health & Human Services created the day in 2002 to raise awareness of health needs in racial and ethnic minority communities.

    National Previvor Day is September 27

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    Cancer previvors are people at higher-risk of contracting cancer due to a predisposed condition for cancer yet haven’t had the disease.

    This refers to those with hereditary genetic mutations, those with a family history of cancers, or people with other predisposing conditions that could possibly produce cancer.

    An example of a hereditary genetic mutation would be the BRCA1 gene responsible for higher risks of breast and ovarian cancers in women and breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers in men.

    In 2010, Congress passed a resolution creating the first National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and National Previvor Day thanks to the efforts of the organization FORCE- Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered. They also created the term “previvor” as a portmanteau of “predisposition” and “survivor” which has since become commonplace in the cancer community.

    It was created to raise awareness of inherited, hereditary cancers. Hereditary genetics can show a predisposition for various cancers including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer and melanoma. It draws attention to the importance of hereditary cancer screenings for the possible presence of these genetic mutations.

    National Previvor Day is observed in the middle of the last week of September, during National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week, bridging the gap between the National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month of September and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

    For more information on National Previvor Day and National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week, contact FORCE; Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowerment, the originators of the awareness week at http://www.facingourrisk.org/get-involved/events/special-event.php.

    Also, for more information about Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC), read http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/hereditary-breast-and-ovarian-cancer.

    National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week

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    The week of September 24-October 1 is National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week.

    In 2010, Congress passed a resolution creating the first National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week thanks to the efforts of the organization FORCE- Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered.

    It was created to raise awareness of inherited, hereditary cancers. Hereditary genetics can show a predisposition for various cancers including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer and melanoma. It draws attention to the importance of hereditary cancer screenings for the possible presence of these genetic mutations.

    It is observed in the last week of September, bridging the gap between the National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month of September and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

    For more information on National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week, contact FORCE; Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, the originators of the awareness week at http://www.facingourrisk.org/get-involved/events/special-event.php.

    Also, for more information about Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC), read http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/hereditary-breast-and-ovarian-cancer.

    September is Childhood Cancer, Leukemia, Lymphoma, Ovarian and Prostate Cancer Awarenesses Month.

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    September is Childhood Cancer, Leukemia, Lymphoma, Ovarian and Prostate Cancer Awarenesses Month.

    September is a time to honor, support and remember children affected by cancer and their families. Its ribbon is gold.

    Leukemia refers to a group of cancers often beginning in a patient’s bone marrow creating a high number of underdeveloped white blood cells. Its ribbon is orange.

    Lymphoma comes from lymphatic cells that produce blood cell tumors that become cancerous. Its ribbon is lime green.

    Ovarian cancer causes are still not entirely understood. Some symptoms may include stomach pain, bloating, unusual bleeding and nausea. Its ribbon is teal.

    Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer for men, after skin cancer. It is possible to successfully treat it though. In the US alone, there are millions of prostate cancer survivors. Its ribbon is light blue.

    Please seek medical advice from your physician and take care.

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