Onkológia 3/2022

Lung cancer and COVID-19 – some aspects

Oncological diseases generally increase morbidity and mortality on COVID-19. In patients with lung cancer, risk factors for the complicated course of COVID-19 accumulate, such as older age, significant concomitant cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, especially in connection with smoking, as well as altered immunity in connection with oncological treatment. International professional societies have issued recommendations on cancer patients’ management, including lung cancer, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their main goal is to balance patient protection against the risk of infection and adequate cancer treatment. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic has at least slowed progress in either the speed or quality of lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. In the worst case, their deterioration with all the consequences, including higher mortality. However, whether this is the case and to what extent, reliably will show only the analyses from the National Cancer Registers for which we are waiting.

Keywords: COVID-19, lung cancer, international recommendations