This post was written in partnership with AstraZeneca.
Hi friends! I hope you all have been staying well. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a significant shift across care especially cancer care including declines in cancer diagnoses. I know many of us have been putting off appointments this year because visiting a doctor’s office or hospital during a pandemic sounds risky! But you know what’s riskier? Potentially going undiagnosed and not getting the necessary treatment in the early stages of disease.
I’ve partnered with AstraZeneca to talk about their New Normal, Same Cancer program, a public health initiative to raise awareness about recommended cancer screens during the pandemic, and I was able to highlight safety measures, precautions, and care from my practice virtually with Denise Albert, @themomsnetwork. We also discussed how she has been staying safe and up to date with her screening and preventative visits with her healthcare team during these times. Keep reading to check out our Q/A session together. It’s so important to play an active role in your health journey and I strongly encourage you and your loved ones to continue preventative screenings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Be sure to check in with your healthcare teams to determine the best course of action for you. Visit https://bit.ly/3sVUShT for more information.
Q/A Part 1:
Denise: If a patient is concerned about going to a Dr appointment, how would you ease their anxiety about the protocols you are taking to keep everyone safe?
Dr. Kristamarie: In light of all of the changes over the past year, our health and the health of our loved ones are what matter. As we have learned more details during this pandemic, I have been able to implement a few protocols to help protect patients so they can continue to receive care. Our practice has been following safety guidelines set by the CDC and the city’s department of health. Additionally, we transitioned a large majority of visits to provide virtual visits for people to still receive the care they need, but from the safety of their homes. For any home or work consultations, we make sure the appropriate precautions are taken (using appropriate screening questions) and wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.
Denise: We have heard from recent expert opinion that vaccination side effects can include enlarged lymph nodes and mirror signs of breast cancer. Besides trying to schedule screenings before the first vaccination dose or 4-6 weeks after your second dose, if possible. What else should cancer patients know about staying safe during these times?
Dr. Kristamarie: It’s important that patients don’t put off recommended health care and treatments. Skipping appointments or delaying them may lead to other issues down the road. I would encourage patients to reach out to their providers to see what precautions their hospitals and offices are taking to ensure their safety. It may also be helpful to ask friends or family for help with certain errands (such as grocery shopping) to decrease time spent around large crowds depending on what part of the country you live in. Patients should continue to wear face coverings when out in public, maintaining distance when appropriate, and discuss whether vaccination is an appropriate option about their specific case. If there are concerns for any new or unusual symptoms, please don’t hesitate to get tested or to discuss with your providers.
Denise: Should Cancer patients take extra steps to continue to stay safe?
Dr. Kristamarie: It’s essential to continue making healthy lifestyle choices that will support immune health while keeping the body strong. Getting adequate sleep, incorporating a healthy diet full of vegetables and fruits, and reducing stress are some ways to help maintain health. Staying up to date with recommendations from providers and reputable organizations such as the CDC can also help ensure that you are staying safe.
Q/A Part 2:
Dr. Kristamarie: What special actions or precautions have you taken to ensure that you are staying safe during the Pandemic?
Denise: I’m continuing to monitor public health guidance as different areas start to reopen, and only doing so with caution. I have stayed masked and kept to my “pod.” I don’t eat indoors with anyone other than my immediate family who I live with (and my pandemic-blended family) which includes my ex-husband, his wife, her ex-husband, and their kids. That’s our “family” because the kids go back and forth so it’s as if we all live together. We all wash our hands constantly, get tested if we think we may have been around someone who tested positive, and quarantine if any of us were exposed. I’ve started to double mask if I go into a market or store and wear gloves as often as possible and keep up to date with the latest public health guidance on how the virus is affecting my own community.
Dr. Kristamarie: How have you been staying up to date with your own healthcare needs and screening tests during this time?
Denise: I keep a list of all of my different doctors as shown above. I have many annual or biannual appointments because of my cancer journey and my side effects. My oncologist, my surgeon, my radiation oncologist, my rheumatologist, my ophthalmologist, my dermatologist, my gynecologist, my endocrinologist, my gastroenterologist, and my dentist. I keep notes on when to follow up. The portals do a really good job of reminders, but I have a few different portals! So, this list keeps me organized.
Dr. Kristamarie: Have you had to visit your healthcare provider in person during the COVID-19 pandemic, and if yes, how was your experience? Did you feel as though your healthcare team prioritized your health and safety and if so, could you share how they did this?
Denise: Yes. At the beginning, I didn’t and luckily my mammography and my oncology appointments are typically in March, so I had just seen them when everything got bad in 2020. I was slightly late on some of the others due to the pandemic but luckily, I see so many year-round who take many blood tests and check levels that I felt like I was still in the realm of “on time”. I’m just about all caught up now and it feels great! We all have enough to worry about healthwise these days and catching anything early can save your life. I know, because I did.