Are you getting cancer treatments during COVID-19?

Are you getting cancer treatments at the moment? What about diagnostic tests, like blood tests, CT scans, mammography, PET scans etc? Is your surgery going ahead as planned or postponed?
I'd like to hear from you. What is like being in treatment during the COVID-19 crisis? How are you doing?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Cancer: Managing Symptoms Support Group.

@buckslayer

Oh no, where are you located? That is awful news, were you able to talk to your doctor or did you just get the delay notification by email? I'm so sorry. Hoping my husband doesn't get the same news two weeks from now related to his scheduled surgery, such an anxious time for all.

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Saw my doctor... He indicated the urgency to get my prostate and all the surrounding lymph nodes removed. Requested robotic procedure for April 6. Hospital canceled it due to our governor's emergency decree for here in NM. Can't even get a response now from their message mychart system. Just left in limbo. Prayer is my safe place in this time of uncertainty... He's got this!

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@papabill

Saw my doctor... He indicated the urgency to get my prostate and all the surrounding lymph nodes removed. Requested robotic procedure for April 6. Hospital canceled it due to our governor's emergency decree for here in NM. Can't even get a response now from their message mychart system. Just left in limbo. Prayer is my safe place in this time of uncertainty... He's got this!

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@papabill- Welcome to Mayo Connect. Your situation is just terrible. I can't imagine not being able to be treated for my lung cancer if need be due to this virus. Decisions being made during this pandemic are very hard to accept. Life was so normal and all of a sudden we have a new one- no time to even get used to it. There are still so many questions about this virus that have yet been answered. I'm thinking that all energy is being focused on stopping the spread of COVID-19 and because it is killing a lot of doctors and nurses and putting the rest of us on hold. It's such a horrible situation for all of us.
Have you considered calling your Oncologist? How are you feeling? Are you in any pain?

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@mom23boys

Does one of our Volunteer/Mentors know if these cancellations are in order to keep us safe, isolated at home, or are they to free up Medical Personnel? I've had my re-staging CT (due between March and May) approved by insurance but wondered if they would schedule it. I don't understand palstead's Brain MRI being cancelled. That would seem quite important. I know how these scans can cause much anxiety and no one wants to put them off any longer than we have to.

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@mom23boys- Good morning. That's a great observation. I do believe that one of the reasons that we are being isolated is to protect us. But I also believe that it is so that other people are protected. Because of unreliable test results and lack of good tests too many people could be walking around infecting others. It's also a highly confusing time. It seems as if governmental administrators of our states don't have the proper training or resources to make medical decisions and there is also poor communications.
This just makes for a lack of accurate and science-based data and poor decisions.

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@colleenyoung

@devehf, you're quite right that N95 masks being reserved for health care providers. In some treatment areas, regular masks may be available if you ask at check-in.

– COVID-19: When should you wear a face mask? https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/covid-19-when-should-you-wear-a-face-mask/

To be effective, the mask must be put on and taken off correctly. @zeiracorp shared videos of how in this discussion:
– Donning and Removal of PPE https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/donning-and-removal-of-ppe/

Dave and @seaspray, please let us know how things are working at Mayo Florida when you go for your appointments. It will be helpful for others to prepare, even if things are changing daily.

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Today is day 2 at Mayo for me. Waiting in waiting room with 5 others scattered. No masks were worn by any is the doctors or technicians. They want me to have the vivid test when I finish with my radiation today. I have refused. I have not left the house in over 2 weeks and doubt anything I could have caught here would even show up yet. Better they give the test to the staff who has not been tested.

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No ma'am I'm reaching out on behalf of my beloved mother she's been battling this cancer for 2 years now in the roughest Journey but the strongest woman I've seen they've done tried to take her off of life support and she survived the doctors but she's unfortunately had, not all of them of course but a few were just seemingly trying to write her off and let her life expire every time they get doubt in my mom's help she comes back with a miracle it seems like can you please pretty please help my family? My mom has never gotten to do Holistics we can't afford it but I will borrow the money if I have to become a stripper which is a very scary to me someone with my shyness but I'm tired of seeing my mom not ready to go now and she has more to do here and we just haven't gotten the right Medical Treatments up he's I'm hoping it's not too late which I also know that it's never too late... . Love light and blessings to you all beautiful souls

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Thanks all. I've been asked to not comment further for a couple days by the admin on this page. Appreciate all the past comments and concern. Blessings.

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@seaspray

Today is day 2 at Mayo for me. Waiting in waiting room with 5 others scattered. No masks were worn by any is the doctors or technicians. They want me to have the vivid test when I finish with my radiation today. I have refused. I have not left the house in over 2 weeks and doubt anything I could have caught here would even show up yet. Better they give the test to the staff who has not been tested.

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If they are offering it, you should accept the testing since you are immune compromised, and they are looking out for your best interest!

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@ashleymiller8764

No ma'am I'm reaching out on behalf of my beloved mother she's been battling this cancer for 2 years now in the roughest Journey but the strongest woman I've seen they've done tried to take her off of life support and she survived the doctors but she's unfortunately had, not all of them of course but a few were just seemingly trying to write her off and let her life expire every time they get doubt in my mom's help she comes back with a miracle it seems like can you please pretty please help my family? My mom has never gotten to do Holistics we can't afford it but I will borrow the money if I have to become a stripper which is a very scary to me someone with my shyness but I'm tired of seeing my mom not ready to go now and she has more to do here and we just haven't gotten the right Medical Treatments up he's I'm hoping it's not too late which I also know that it's never too late... . Love light and blessings to you all beautiful souls

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@ashleymiller8764- Good morning Ashley. It must be awful to see your mom suffer from cancer for 2 years. What treatments is she having now? What have her treatments been? Is she on any medications?

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@papabill

Thanks all. I've been asked to not comment further for a couple days by the admin on this page. Appreciate all the past comments and concern. Blessings.

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@papabill Bill, Unbelievable, did they give you a reason why?

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@ashleymiller8764

No ma'am I'm reaching out on behalf of my beloved mother she's been battling this cancer for 2 years now in the roughest Journey but the strongest woman I've seen they've done tried to take her off of life support and she survived the doctors but she's unfortunately had, not all of them of course but a few were just seemingly trying to write her off and let her life expire every time they get doubt in my mom's help she comes back with a miracle it seems like can you please pretty please help my family? My mom has never gotten to do Holistics we can't afford it but I will borrow the money if I have to become a stripper which is a very scary to me someone with my shyness but I'm tired of seeing my mom not ready to go now and she has more to do here and we just haven't gotten the right Medical Treatments up he's I'm hoping it's not too late which I also know that it's never too late... . Love light and blessings to you all beautiful souls

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I'm so sorry for what you're going thru with your mother. I think we need to open up a discussion on how we feel we are treated sometimes by doctors. I'll be 1 year post-diagnosis for stage 4 breast cancer on 4-15. When the doc got my scans back showing it in my lungs and bones he called me. I told him from the start (he asked) if I want it "straight", no sugar-coating. But telling me that he'd try to get me 2 years threw me for a loop. Fortunately you can't tell I'm sick (maybe a little but not much-thinning hair). I don't think I feel different and I'm willing to fight like heck to stay on this earth. A little positivity would go a long way. You stand strong with your mom and I wish you all the best.

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