Facts Matter for Patients with Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Says One Advocate

While patients with cancer continue to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical to seek out scientific facts and avoid the misinformation and noise that comes with a rapidly evolving news landscape, says Raymond Foundation co-founder Martha Raymond.

CURE® recently spoke with Raymond about how patients and their caregivers are feeling the pressure of navigating the global pandemic while also maintaining their sanity. When asked what advice she would give this population as they try to make sense of things, she stressed the importance of evidence-based information and a clear channel of communication with one’s care team.

Transcription:

That’s a difficult question, for sure. I think for all of us, (we should) really listen to the healthcare professionals. Don’t let the noise of the media outlets and television drown out the evidence-based science that we all need to focus on.

I think that cancer patients, caregivers, survivors, they are really smart about knowing how to navigate information and learning what is accurate and what is not, what is evidence-based and what is factual, and really, what is current. So much fo the information you learn is just not current. And I think that cancer patients are really good at delving into all of that, so that’s one thing I would say is to listen to your healthcare professionals.

And if you have any questions, I know several patients we’ve spoken with feel like they might have had the coronavirus or are experiencing symptoms, and I think to really take advantage of now, telemedicine more than ever is so important. Being able to have that relationship with your physician or primary care, just to be able to say hey, I’m not feeling 100% right now, and to listen to their guidance as opposed to other information that maybe isn’t as based in science.