Episode 070: Cancer, COVID and Coping: A discussion with Dr Christopher Steer

In this episode of Simplify Cancer Podcast, we talk about better ways of dealing with cancer during the pandemic, coping with uncertainty, and reducing the risk of severe infection. This is particularly crucial in the time of COVID-19 pandemic. Our special guest is Dr Christopher Steer, a medical oncologist who specialises in helping older adults with cancer, and here is what we cover in our discussion today: Balancing your risk of infection with need for anti-cancer therapy Separating myth from fact on boosting your immune system Finding the better care for older adults Where to turn to for expect advice in this uncertain time The missing link of psychological care through cancer and much, much more! Links Full episode transcript (PDF) Don't Forget To Sign Up for Your 7 Day Challenge to Take Your Life Back After Cancer!People expect you to bounce back after cancer, but it’s not easy – you’ve got to deal with changes, fatigue and worry that it might come back… Over seven days, I am sharing practical ideas that helped me get the life I want after cancer – sign up free today: #btn_1_5095f450e13754607e74fd13894c14a2 .text {font-size:16px;color:#ffffff;font-weight:bold;}#btn_1_5095f450e13754607e74fd13894c14a2 {padding:5px 25px;border-color:#000000;border-width:1px;-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;background:#38b6ff;background:-webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, #38b6ff), color-stop(100%, #38b6ff));background:-webkit-linear-gradient(top, #38b6ff 0%, #38b6ff 100%);background:-moz-linear-gradient(top, #38b6ff 0%, #38b6ff 100%);background:-ms-linear-gradient(top, #38b6ff 0%, #38b6ff 100%);background:-o-linear-gradient(top, #38b6ff 0%, #38b6ff 100%);background:linear-gradient(to bottom, #38b6ff 0%, #38b6ff 100%);filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(startColorstr=#38b6ff, endColorstr=#38b6ff, GradientType=0);box-shadow:0px 1px 1px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);}#btn_1_5095f450e13754607e74fd13894c14a2 .gradient {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_5095f450e13754607e74fd13894c14a2 .shine {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_5095f450e13754607e74fd13894c14a2 .active {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_5095f450e13754607e74fd13894c14a2 .hover {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}Sign Up Today I will never give out your email - view my Privacy Policy Episode Transcript: Joe:                             As a medical oncologist, I know that you are deeply involved in cancer treatment, in follow-ups, in research, in clinical trials, Christopher, what impact have you seen with the pandemic so far? Christopher:            We have a large number of patients from regional Australia coming to receive standard chemotherapy and immunotherapy and radiation and follow-up in our centre.  Of course, patients need to travel to have their treatment to our centre.  That is the first issue. As you may also be aware, patients with cancer tend to be older.  The average age of patients with cancer in Australia is 67 years at first diagnosis.  That means a significant number of our patients are older.  Here we have a large number of patients older, having to travel to our centre for treatment. I would say rightly so, that because our patients are going to be at risk of more severe infection should they contract the virus.  We need to remember that we’re all at risk of contracting the virus and the only thing that we can do to prevent infection and not be infected by it is not to be infected with it.  The only thing that we can do is practice social distancing and good hygiene.  Good hand hygiene and other practices that we’re all well aware of now.  There is no prophylactic treatment.  There’s no treatment once we get it.  We need to remember that the only thing that we can do is practice good phy...