--- title: How to Think About Your Cancer Care in the Time of COVID-19 description: You can protect yourself without risking your cancer treatment. A leading cancer specialist offers advice in this difficult time. canonical: https://time.com/5828180/cancer-care-covid19/ author: TIME article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2020-04-28T10:30:09.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-14T08:56:13.344Z article:section: Ideas og:title: How to Think About Your Cancer Care in the Time of COVID-19 og:description: You can protect yourself without risking your cancer treatment. A leading cancer specialist offers advice in this difficult time. og:url: https://time.com/5828180/cancer-care-covid19/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb1eda78259ce9dc7/698a0d5897cdff4a9b6baa78/cancer-care-coronavirus.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2400 og:image:height: 1350 og:image:alt: Virus Outbreak Delaying Care og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: How to Think About Your Cancer Care in the Time of COVID-19 twitter:description: You can protect yourself without risking your cancer treatment. A leading cancer specialist offers advice in this difficult time. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb1eda78259ce9dc7/698a0d5897cdff4a9b6baa78/cancer-care-coronavirus.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 video:duration: 05:18 video:published: 2020-05-07 section: health topics: cancer treatment, COVID-19 pandemic, chemotherapy, active surveillance, radiation therapy, hospital operations, patient testing, low-risk cancers, telehealth visits, treatment intensity genre: interview, explainer tones: reassuring, informative, measured, practical emotions: reassurance (medium), concern (medium), hope (low) sentiment: neutral audience: cancer patients, caregivers, oncology clinicians, general health readers people: Laura Esserman organizations: University of California, San Francisco, UCSF Breast Care Clinic, TIME content_suitability: health controversy [02:45-03:19]; death [02:12-02:45] transcript_source: automatic transcription transcript_reviewed: not applicable ---  # How to Think About Your Cancer Care in the Time of COVID-19 > Sponsored content. 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It explains how TIME's journalism is made, from the first pitch through the editorial decisions behind a finished story or cover. #### How can I read about how TIME chooses its covers? Inside TIME is the newsletter where TIME's Editor-in-Chief explains cover selection and the editorial reasoning behind major stories. It is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who is the editor of TIME? Sam Jacobs is TIME's Editor-in-Chief. He writes Inside TIME, a twice-weekly newsletter about the newsroom's reporting and editorial decisions. #### Is Inside TIME free? Yes. Inside TIME is a free newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=e542b4dd-6838-418b-a242-1b42663a1c75&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Dr. Laura Esserman on How to Think About Your Cancer Care in the Time of COVID-19 [Watch (HLS stream): Dr. Laura Esserman on How to Think About Your Cancer Care in the Time of COVID-19](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Yy4kKkKF.m3u8) (5:18)  _Published 2020-05-07. Esserman is Professor of Surgery and Radiology at the University of California, San Francisco and director of the UCSF Breast Care Clinic. Her work in breast cancer spans the spectrum from basic science to public policy issues._ Description, summary, key points, chapters, key quotes, questions and transcript, where present, were produced automatically from the video or its captions and were not reviewed. ## Summary Dr. Laura Esserman discusses how people with cancer should think about their care during the COVID-19 pandemic. She advises continuing treatment with safe precautions, such as sheltering in place and minimizing exposure during chemotherapy. She explains that some surgeries and radiation can be safely delayed for certain low-risk cancers, and describes hospitals reopening with testing of patients before operations. She also argues that less treatment is often safe for low and ultra-low risk cancers, and that patients should still be offered options. ## Key points - People in the middle of cancer treatment should continue those treatments, working with their physicians, since many safe ways exist to do so. (00:00) - Patients receiving chemotherapy should stay home, shelter in place, and have others shop or use food delivery to minimize exposure, especially when blood counts are low. (00:22) - Some cancers can be managed with active surveillance protocols, such as certain prostate and in situ cancers, so surgery can be safely delayed. (01:12) - Waiting an extra four weeks for radiation therapy is not expected to make much of a difference. (01:29) - Cancers range from indolent to very high risk, and for stage four disease the goal is usually to control the disease rather than eradicate it. (02:12) - Hospitals paused some care early in the pandemic because they did not know whether systems would be overwhelmed or run out of protective equipment. (02:45) - UCSF is testing everyone going to the operating room, which the speaker believes helps everyone feel safe. (03:26) - Many studies have shown that less treatment is safe for low and ultra-low risk cancers, and that more treatment is not always better. (04:22) ## Chapters - [00:00 to 01:12] Continuing cancer treatment safely during COVID-19. Esserman advises patients to keep up treatment with physicians, using video visits and precautions like sheltering in place during chemotherapy. - [01:12 to 02:12] Delaying surgery and radiation when appropriate. She explains that active surveillance and short delays in radiation can be safe for certain cancers. - [02:12 to 03:19] Hospitals reopening and testing before surgery. She describes the spectrum of cancer behavior and how hospitals paused care, then began testing patients before operations. - [03:19 to 04:22] Keeping access to care and options open. She discusses calling patients, minimizing hospital visits, and keeping diagnostic services available when patients have concerns. - [04:22 to 05:18] Rethinking treatment intensity for low-risk cancers. She argues less treatment is often safe for low-risk cancers and that clinicians should still give patients options. ## Key quotes - [00:00] Dr. Laura Esserman: "they should continue those treatments. And there are many safe ways to do that." - [04:22] Dr. Laura Esserman: "more is not always better. More is just more. And sometimes more can be worse." - [04:48] Dr. Laura Esserman: "But I think it's also important not to stop giving people options." - [02:45] Dr. Laura Esserman: "They didn't know if their systems were going to be overwhelmed." ## Questions this video answers - Should people continue cancer treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic? [00:00] - How can chemotherapy patients reduce their exposure to COVID-19? [00:22] - Can some cancer surgeries or radiation be safely delayed during the pandemic? [01:12] - Why did hospitals pause some cancer care early in the pandemic? [02:45] - How are hospitals keeping patients safe before surgery? [03:26] - Is less treatment safe for low-risk cancers? [04:22] ## Content suitability - health controversy [02:45-03:19]: Discusses hospitals pausing care and uncertainty about overwhelmed systems and protective equipment shortages during the pandemic. - death [02:12-02:45]: References stage four disease and the goal of controlling rather than eradicating it. by [Dr. Laura Esserman](https://time.com/author/dr-laura-esserman/) ## Dr. Laura Esserman Apr 28, 2020 10:30 AM UTC Esserman is Professor of Surgery and Radiology at the University of California, San Francisco and director of the UCSF Breast Care Clinic. Her work in breast cancer spans the spectrum from basic science to public policy issues. by [Dr. Laura Esserman](https://time.com/author/dr-laura-esserman/) ## Dr. Laura Esserman Apr 28, 2020 10:30 AM UTC Getting the news that you have cancer is overwhelming and frightening. The [COVID-19 crisis](https://time.com/tag/covid-19/) adds another layer of anxiety. But know this: you _can_ protect yourself from COVID-19 without compromising your cancer treatment. Don’t panic. In the vast majority of cases, a diagnosis of cancer is not an emergency even though it feels like one. There is time to learn about your options and sort out what is right for you. For now, there will be changes to how we do things. Some of the changes will feel disruptive, but many will lead to better, more patient-centered care. Minimizing your chances of exposure to the virus doesn’t require sacrificing good care. **How you interact with your cancer care team will change during this period.**In keeping with directives to shelter in place, whenever possible, your visits will be by phone or video. In-hospital appointments will be kept to a minimum to reduce your potential for exposure. **Your treatment/screening schedule may change.** Your care team will reschedule or delay treatment when it is safe to do so, without compromising the effectiveness of your treatment. Many oncology societies have issued guidance for care \*. Your care team will know best about your particular situation. Your cancer care teams are still at work. **If you are newly diagnosed with invasive cancer** There are safe ways to postpone surgery. Systemic therapies (chemotherapy, hormone therapy, biologics and immuno-oncology treatments) are already a part of cancer care. Starting with that therapy before surgery (neoadjuvant therapy) is a great approach and is not only equally safe but allows us to learn how your tumor responds, if additional treatment will help, and whether aggressive surgical procedures or radiation can be avoided. We use this for breast cancer routinely. Switching the order of therapy helps tailor your treatments to response. **If you are in the middle of chemotherapy treatments,** you should continue. Your doctors may take more precautions to support your blood counts. Stay home. Have others grocery shop for you. Your physicians may have you come in less often and have your caregivers/support accompany you by phone/video. **A new** **_precancerous/high risk lesion_** (Ductal Carcinoma in situ (DCIS), atypical lesions, cervical neoplasia) is not an emergency. Waiting a few months is safe and active surveillance and prevention medications are possible alternatives. **If you are** **_waiting to start radiation_** **,** your radiation oncologist will prioritize when to start. For some, waiting up to 12 weeks is safe. Shorter courses of treatment may be appropriate and just as safe. **If you are** **_due for routine cancer screening_** **,** don’t go in now for mammograms, lung CT, or repeat imaging for low risk findings. Waiting 3 months will not change your outcome. **If you have recently learned that you are** **_at VERY high risk_**, because you have inherited a mutation that increases your risk for developing cancer, you can get a video consult, learn about options for risk-reduction and screening, and schedule appropriate screening 3 months out. **If you are a** **_cancer survivor_**, follow-ups and screening can be safely put off 3 months. **If you have a new mass or a new symptom that worries you,** that may be reason to go in for imaging or an exam. Cancer clinics are open to care for you. You can always start with a video-visit. **Why it is important to triage surgical cases** – We still need to put the infrastructure in place and scale up the tools we need to take care of everyone safely. This includes COVID testing, personal protective equipment, beds, blood supply, and ventilators in place for safe care of cancer patients in the operating rooms and hospitals. Postponing surgical procedures using multidisciplinary approaches can also allow combined reconstructive cases to proceed safely. If everyone stays home now, we prevent our health care system from being overwhelmed, so emergent and urgent cases can proceed. As COVID testing becomes widely available, we can safely resume surgical procedures, and allow loved ones to be present. When possible, facilities will be separated for COVID and non-COVID related care. The _silver lining_ is that a crisis drives innovation and patient centered care. We have a strong foundation of science and clinical studies upon which to build, more effective treatments, more options and a better understanding of how to personalize care. We can safely do less for those with very low risk tumors, and more for those that need it. Even without COVID, we should be tailoring treatment to risk, biology, and evolving clinical data. When it is safe to do less, that is actually a benefit. This is a time when acting on such data is particularly important. Many cancer research studies have been put on hold, but not all, and COVID 19 studies are starting in earnest\*\*. Once the worst of the crisis passes, and COVID testing is in place, we need to safely re-open research studies because finding new and better ways to treat cancer is essential. If everyone helps to do their part, we will all get through this better as a community, making sure we do what is best for you and everyone going through this incredibly challenging health pandemic. Stay home, help flatten the curve, and know that we are here for you. **Resources** \*Clinical guidance [https://www.asco.org/asco-coronavirus-information/care-individuals-cancer-during-covid-19](https://www.asco.org/asco-coronavirus-information/care-individuals-cancer-during-covid-19) [https://www.nccn.org/covid-19/](https://www.nccn.org/covid-19/) [https://www.facs.org/covid-19/clinical-guidance/elective-case/colorectal-cancer](https://www.facs.org/covid-19/clinical-guidance/elective-case/colorectal-cancer) [https://www.facs.org/covid-19](https://www.facs.org/covid-19) [https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/breast-care-in-the-time-of-covid-19](https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/breast-care-in-the-time-of-covid-19) \*\*Research guidance [https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus](https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus) [https://www.thewisdomstudy.org/](https://www.thewisdomstudy.org/) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5828180/cancer-care-covid19/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5828180/cancer-care-covid19/"},"headline":"How to Think About Your Cancer Care in the Time of COVID-19","datePublished":"2020-04-28T10:30:09.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-14T08:56:13.344Z","description":"Getting the news that you have cancer is overwhelming. 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