Gynecologic radiation therapy in low and middle income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rohini K BhatiaKatie E LichterLavanya GurramEmily MacDuffieDorothy Chilambe LombeGustavo R SarriaSurbhi GroverPublished in: International journal of gynecological cancer : official journal of the International Gynecological Cancer Society (2022)
The COVID-19 pandemic has forever affected healthcare and posed an incredible challenge to our society to care for our sick. Patients with cancer were found early on to have higher rates of complications with COVID-19. Radiation therapy is an integral part of treatment for many types of gynecologic cancer and adaptation on its utilization during the pandemic varied across the globe. In this review, we detail certain guidelines for the use of radiation in gynecologic cancers during the pandemic as well as real world accounts of how different countries adapted to these guidelines or created their own based on individualized resources, staffing, government restrictions, and societal norms. Critically, this review demonstrates the breadth of fractionation schemes and technologies used when resources were limited but highlights the importance of long term follow-up for many of our patients during this time.
Keyphrases
- radiation therapy
- coronavirus disease
- sars cov
- healthcare
- end stage renal disease
- endometrial cancer
- ejection fraction
- newly diagnosed
- clinical practice
- radiation induced
- chronic kidney disease
- prognostic factors
- papillary thyroid
- peritoneal dialysis
- risk factors
- locally advanced
- patient reported outcomes
- pain management
- young adults
- health information
- social media
- combination therapy