COVID-19 & Cancer

We have all been affected by the coronavirus pandemic in some way. For cancer survivors, it can be difficult to process the time lost to COVID-19 after surviving the hardships of cancer treatment.

Cancer nonprofit and advocacy groups shifted their fundraising events from live to virtual in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moving forward, virtual events will likely remain a critical component for cancer fundraising strategies.

In May 2019, Kiana Wooten went for a routine check-up. Read about how that routine visit turned into a breast cancer diagnosis for the 34-year-old Kiana, who had to be hospitalized during COVID-19.

Zack Luchetti, who has been teaching art remotely in the past year, initially thought he had COVID-19, then appendicitis, only to be told he had colon cancer. His 2 paintings represent a self-portrait of encouragement and the tie between cancer and coronavirus.

Sabrina Steinback’s mom died from COVID-19 in 2020, and then Sabrina had a lumpectomy to remove breast cancer at the end of the year.

Short answer: Yes. According to ESMO, the current evidence shows that mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 are safe for patients with cancer who are receiving immunosuppressive therapy.

As we reflect on 1 year of living in a pandemic, here’s what we’ve learned about COVID-19, cancer, and the road ahead.

The social isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic has left those with cancer feeling more left out than ever. Finding companionship and building close relationships, whether in person or virtually, is essential to overall well-being.