CANCER AND

COVID -19
CANCER AND COVID19

Objectives
 About covid19
 Comarbid condition

 About cancer

 Types of cancer

 Cancer facts

 How cancer treatment weakens immunity in such covid

situation?
 Symptoms of covid 19

 Coping with cancer during corona virus outbreak

 prevention

 Drugs used in treatment

COVID -19
CORONA VIRUSES
 Coronaviruses constitute the subfamily
 Orthocoronavirinae, in the family Coronaviridae, order 
Nidovirales, and They are enveloped viruses with a 
positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome and a 
nucleocapsid of helical symmetry.The genome size of
ranges from 26 to 32 kilobases, one of the largest among 
RNA viruses.[8] They have characteristic club-shaped 
spikes that project from their surface.
Structure
 Spherical or pleomorphic enveloped particles containing
single-stranded (positive-sense) RNA associated with a
nucleoprotein within a capsid comprised of matrix
protein. The envelope bears club-shaped glycoprotein
projections.
 Covid structure spike protein
 MULTIPLICATION
 The virus enters the host cell, and the uncoated genome
is transcribed and translated. The mRNAs form a unique
“nested set” sharing a common 3′ end. New virions form
by budding from host cell membranes.
Pathogenesis
 Transmission is usually via airborne droplets to the nasal
mucosa. Virus replicates locally in cells of the ciliated
epithelium, causing cell damage and inflammation.
 DIAGNOSIS
 Colds caused by coronaviruses cannot be distinguished
clinically from other colds in any one individual.
Laboratory diagnosis may be made on the basis of
antibody titers in paired sera. The virus is difficult to
isolate. Nucleic acid hybridization tests (including PCR)
are now being introduced.
Control
 Treatment of common colds is symptomatic; no vaccines
or specific drugs are available. Hygiene measures reduce
the rate of transmission.
COMARBID CONDITIONS
 comorbidity is the presence of one or more additional
conditions often co-occurring with a primary condition.
Comorbidity describes the effect of all other conditions
an individual patient might have other than the primary
condition of interest, and can be physiological or
psychological.
DIFFERENT COMARBID
CONDITIONS
 Arnold-Chiari malformations
 Anxiety

 Autoiommune disease

 Cardiovascular Risks

 Cutaneous Allodynia

 Depression

 Diabetes

 Dystonia

 Fibromyalgia

 Hemicrania continua

 Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

 Lupus

 Raynaud’s

 Seizures

 Sjogren’s syndrome

 Thyroid dysfunction

 Trigeminal neuralgia

 cancer
CANCER
 Cancer is a group of diseases that is characterized
by uncontrolled or abnormal cell division.
 The excess tissue that develops is calleds tumours

 The study of tumours is called oncology

 A cancerous neoplasm is called malignant

 tumour ,they undergo metastasis or rapid spread.

 A benign tumour is one that does not metastasize.

 Eg: warts

 They can be surgically removed.

TYPES OF CANCER
 The major types of cancer are carcinoma, sarcoma, 
melanoma, lymphoma, and leukemia. Carcinomas -- the
most commonly diagnosed cancers -- originate in the skin, 
lungs, breasts, pancreas, and other organs and glands.
 Lymphomas are cancers of lymphocytes. Leukemia is 
cancer of the blood. It does not usually form solid tumors.
 Sarcomas arise in bone, muscle, fat, blood
vessels, cartilage, or other soft or connective tissues of the
body. They are relatively uncommon.
 Melanomas are cancers that arise in the cells that make
the pigment in skin.
CANCER FACTS
 The word ‘cancer’ comes from the Latin for ‘crab’ – just
like the zodiac sign
 There are more skin cancer cases due to indoor tanning
than lung cancer cases due to smoking
 More than half of all cancers are preventable

 There are more than 200 types and subtypes of cancer

 There are 28 million cancer survivors worldwide

 Only 5-10% of all cancers are entirely hereditary

 Naked mole rats are immune to cancer

 About 16% people die of cancer every year.

 WEAKENS IMMUNITY IN SUCH
COVID SITUATION?

 The immune system protects the body against illness and

infection caused by viruses like coronavirus. Some
people with cancer have a weak immune system which
reduces their ability to fight these infections.
 This is because some treatments, like chemotherapy, can
stop the bone marrow from making enough white blood
cells. White blood cells are part of your immune system. 
 Some types of cancer can also lower your ability to fight
infection. This is usually cancer that affects your
immune system like leukaemia or lymphoma.
SYMPTOMS OF COVID 19
 The main symptoms include:
 Fever

 Coughing

 Shortness of breath

 Trouble breathing

 Fatigue

 Chills, sometimes with shaking

 Body aches

 Headache

 Sore throat

 Loss of smell or taste

 Nausea

 Diarrhoea
COPING WITH CANCER DURING THIS CORANA
oSome
VIRUS people with cancer
OUTBREAK are more at risk of being seriously ill if
SITUATION
they develop the COVID-19 infection. If you are in one of these
groups, you are encouraged to follow particular measures to
protect yourself. These groups of people include those:
ohaving chemotherapy
ohaving radical radiotherapy for lung cancer
owith cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia,
lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
ohaving immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments
for cancer
ohaving other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the
immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP
inhibitors
owho have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6
months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
 Delaying or deferring non-essential clinic visits.
 Using phone consultation or telemedicine appointments
when possible.
 If clinic or hospital visits are necessary.
 Wear a mask or facial covering.
 Practice physical distancing.
 Clinics are screening for exposures either at clinic entrance or
by phone one day prior to visit by checking for fever, cough,
and other symptoms.
 Minimizing visitors (1 visitor + patient).
 Increasing the interval between visits when possible

Are the guidelines to avoid the possibility of covid 19.

GUIDELINES AND TIPS FOR COPING
ANXIETY AND WORRY DURING
THIS COVID SITUATION
•Have a routine
•Eat a healthy diet, drink plenty of fluids and
avoid getting into unhealthy habits such as
smoking or drinking alcohol.
•Keep active
•Try to do things you enjoy such as reading,
jigsaws, cooking, drawing.
•Keep in contact with family and friends.
•Get fresh air – open your windows, if you have a
garden go in it, or sit on your step keeping at least
a 2 metre distance from anyone. 
 LIVING WELL WITH CANCER DURING THE
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

 There are three things that you can do to feel more in

control of your health when you’re living with cancer or
waiting to start treatment during the coronavirus
pandemic.:
 eat a balanced diet

 stay physically active

 look after your mental wellbeing

 cope better with cancer treatment.

GUIDELINES
Eating a balanced diet can help your body to:

cope with treatment side effects

handle the best dose of certain treatments to treat your cancer
recover and heal faster
fight off infections
feel stronger, healthier and have more energy
 A balanced diet includes:-
 Try to eat foods from all food groups. Foods to include are:
 beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins
 potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and other starchy carbohydrates
 fruit and vegetables
 oil and spreads (fats)
 milk, yoghurt and cheese (dairy products)
 Staying physically active
Being physically active means any movement that uses your muscles
and more energy than when you’re resting.

Research has shown that being active can help people with cancer to:
•reduce anxiety
•improve depression
•reduce fatigue
•improve quality of life during and after cancer treatment
•prevent or improve lymphoedema (a type of swelling caused by
treatment to lymph nodes)
•improve general physical functioning
 Physical activity can be of a:
 moderate intensity – this is when the activity makes you
feel warmer, and breathe faster, but you can still talk; for
example, brisk walking, cycling, gardening or
housework
 vigorous intensity – this is an activity that raises your
heart rate and makes you start to sweat and feel out of
breath; for example, running, aerobics and fast cycling
 The UK government and the World Cancer Research Fund
(WCRF) have suggestions to help prevent cancer and other
conditions. They say that all adults should try to do at least one
of the following ways of exercising:
 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week; for
example, 30 minutes 5 times per week
 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week
 All adults should also try and build strength twice a week; for
example, weight training or yoga.
WHEN TO AVOID EXERCISE
 When you have:-
 Cancer affecting the bones

 Low immunity

 Peripheral neuropathy

 After certain types of surgery