Impact of Covid-19 in the field of oncology

Abstract

The outbreak of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become the greatest threat to public health worldwide. Oncological patients have an increased risk of infection due to their oncological disease, which supresses the immune system and mielosupressive effects of antincancer treatments. Throughout this article, the impact of COVID-19 in the oncological field will be reviewed, centering in diagnosis (susceptibility, differential diagnoses, delays in diagnosis in post-COVID era, triage systems); treatment (treatment of COVID-19 infection, surgeries, oncological treatments); impact in mortality and emotional impact. Maintaining quality of care in patients as vulnerable as cancer patients is a huge challenge in the face of possible outbreaks or future times when we have to face living with the infection but maintaining quality standards in healthcare.