CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) AND BREAST CANCER

This page has information for people with breast cancer and their families. 

For general information on coronavirus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

If you have another type of cancer, visit the American Society of Clinical Oncology website for information on coronavirus for people with cancer.

What is coronavirus?

The new coronavirus was first detected in China in late 2019. It causes the respiratory disease COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019.

Most cases of COVID-19 are mild. However, some cases are severe and can lead to death.

For the latest information on the coronavirus, visit the CDC website.

Am I at risk of getting coronavirus?

People who are older or who have other health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease or diabetes, are at greater risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19.

If you have breast cancer and are on chemotherapy or immunotherapy, or you have metastatic breast cancer, your immune system may be weakened. This means you have an increased risk of getting sick from COVID-19.

Check the CDC website and your local public health department website for the latest information.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Common symptoms of COVID-19 are:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Fever
• Chills
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• New loss of taste or smell
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

These symptoms tend to appear 2-14 days after exposure to coronavirus. However, a person may be contagious before symptoms appear.

If you have symptoms, have been in contact with someone who’s been diagnosed with COVID-19 or have questions about testing for coronavirus, call your doctor.

For more information on the symptoms of COVID-19 and when to seek immediate medical attention for symptoms, visit the CDC website.

What can I do to protect myself and my family?

To avoid being exposed to coronavirus, the CDC recommends you:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This is especially important after being in a public place and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Stay home as much as possible.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Keep space between yourself and others outside of your home.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Wear a cloth face cover when you go out in public (for example, to the grocery store). This is to protect other people in case you are infected. Do NOT put a face cover on young children or anyone who can't remove it without help (for example, someone who has trouble breathing or is incapacitated in some way). Don't use a face mask meant for a health care worker.
• Stay home when you are sick. Cover your cough with your elbow or sleeve. Sneeze into a tissue and throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

For additional information about coronavirus (COVID-19) for people with cancer, visit the American Society of Clinical Oncology website.

Find more information on cloth face coverings on the CDC website.

Fonte: Komen

As informações e sugestões contidas neste blog são meramente informativas e não devem substituir consultas com médicos especialistas.

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