Patients Beware: People Are Mistaking Lung Cancer Symptoms for Covid-19

"For lung cancer in particular it does seem to be one of those cancers where for some people, delays of days and weeks really could make a difference," Dr. Jodie Moffat, head of early diagnosis at Cancer Research UK, tells The Times.

The organization also found that in November of last year, 560 fewer people in the U.K. visited a specialist after receiving an "urgent" referral due to suspicions of lung cancer.

This is 10% less than was anticipated, especially compared to data collected prior to the Covid pandemic. In the U.K., there is a goal to start cancer treatment for 85% of patients within two months of a primary care doctor referral; since 2009, this has only been met twice, contributing to the already low statistics when it comes to finding and treating cancer.

Lung Cancer & Covid-19

Lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer, and the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the United States. It can be particularly tricky to treat because often, symptoms do not show up until the cancer has spread to other organs.

Since people are mistaking their lung cancer symptoms for Covid, it is important to know the symptoms of this type of cancer:

• Cough that does not go away, gets worse or brings up bloody phlegm (Cough is a common Covid symptom)
• Shortness of breath (This is also a common Covid symptom)
• Fatigue
• Chest pain
• Hoarse voice
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

From the Coronavirus Epicenter: ‘My Patients Are Doing Remarkably,’ Says Leading Lung Cancer Surgeon

"We're doing everything we can to make sure that our cancer patients get cared for in the appropriate fashion during that time (pandemic time) as well," Dr. Brendon Stiles, chief of thoracic surgery at Montefiore Medical Center, tells SurvivorNet. "You have to tell (patients) that we're going to get through this and really just convince patients that we're all in this together."

How Can Immunocompromised Patients Combat Covid?

Immunocompromised people, such as those who have or have had cancer, are more susceptible to Covid. This rings especially true for lung cancer patients as Covid is a respiratory virus. As a cancer patient or survivor, how can you protect yourself from this virus that is still mutating and infecting thousands every day?

Here is the most important thing: If you have not already, get your Covid shot. (And before you ask, yes, all Covid vaccines are safe for cancer patients and survivors.) If you have received your shot, make sure you get your booster shot.

According to Dr. Nina Shah, a hematologist at the University of California San Francisco, it is critical that cancer patients going through active treatment get this booster.

"It's very important (to get your booster shot), since we know some cancer patients do not mount a sufficient immune response after the first series of shots," Dr. Shah tells SurvivorNet.

Cancer Patients & COVID-19 When to Stay Home and When to Go in to See Your Doctor

If you are hesitant about the vaccine, findings presented at the annual European Society for Medical Oncology conference, or ESMO Congress 2021, the leading professional society for medical oncology, revealed through multiple studies that cancer patients have "an appropriate, protective immune response to vaccination without experiencing any more side-effects than the general population."

The findings discussed at the conference "offer conclusive evidence that while being largely effective, anti-COVID vaccination is just as safe for people with cancer as it is for the general population," according to Dr. Luis Castelo-Branco, a medical oncologist in the ESMO Scientific and Medical Division.

Contributing: SurvivorNet staff

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