What are COVID-19 risks for cancer survivors (5+ years)?
What are COVID-19 risks for cancer survivors (5+ years)?
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The majority of cancer survivors, who have been cancer-free for at least five years, are likely to have normal immune system functions and are not at an increased risk for COVID-19. However, every body is different so every cancer survivor should speak with a doctor who knows their full medical history and can discuss their personal risks with them. For some cancer survivors, their previous treatments might impact their risk of getting COVID-19 or having a severe form of the disease, as these treatments can have long term effects on the immune system and cause the survivor to have preexisting conditions that may put them at a higher risk for viral infection. For example, patients who have undergone a bone marrow transplant (also known as a 'stem cell transplant') might not regain a completely functional immune system as the transplant depletes their white blood cell system (which the body then replaces). Some patients who have undergone bone marrow transplants are no longer immune to illnesses they had become immune to before the procedure. These patients can be at risk for a number of infections, including COVID-19, but the longer it has been since treatment, the more time your body's immune system has had to improve. Despite not having a higher risk of becoming infected with the virus than the general population, it should be noted that cancer survivors do have a higher risk of complications if they become infected with COVID-19. This group is also more likely to be hospitalized if they are infected, compared to people who have never had cancer before. To protect themselves from the virus, just like the general population, cancer survivors should use protective measures like wearing cloth masks over surgical masks, maintaining at least six feet of distance, staying home when they can, and washing hands thoroughly and often.
The majority of cancer survivors, who have been cancer-free for at least five years, are likely to have normal immune system functions and are not at an increased risk for COVID-19. However, every body is different so every cancer survivor should speak with a doctor who knows their full medical history and can discuss their personal risks with them. For some cancer survivors, their previous treatments might impact their risk of getting COVID-19 or having a severe form of the disease, as these treatments can have long term effects on the immune system and cause the survivor to have preexisting conditions that may put them at a higher risk for viral infection. For example, patients who have undergone a bone marrow transplant (also known as a 'stem cell transplant') might not regain a completely functional immune system as the transplant depletes their white blood cell system (which the body then replaces). Some patients who have undergone bone marrow transplants are no longer immune to illnesses they had become immune to before the procedure. These patients can be at risk for a number of infections, including COVID-19, but the longer it has been since treatment, the more time your body's immune system has had to improve. Despite not having a higher risk of becoming infected with the virus than the general population, it should be noted that cancer survivors do have a higher risk of complications if they become infected with COVID-19. This group is also more likely to be hospitalized if they are infected, compared to people who have never had cancer before. To protect themselves from the virus, just like the general population, cancer survivors should use protective measures like wearing cloth masks over surgical masks, maintaining at least six feet of distance, staying home when they can, and washing hands thoroughly and often.
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What our experts say
The majority of cancer survivors, who have been cancer-free for at least five years, are likely to have normal immune system functions and are not at an increased risk for COVID-19. However, every body is different so every cancer survivor should speak with a doctor who knows their full medical history and can discuss their personal risks with them.
For some cancer survivors, their previous treatments might impact their risk of getting COVID-19 or having a severe form of the disease, as these treatments can have long term effects on the immune system and cause the survivor to have preexisting conditions that may put them at a higher risk for viral infection. For example, patients who have undergone a bone marrow transplant (also known as a 'stem cell transplant') might not regain a completely functional immune system as the transplant depletes their white blood cell system (which the body then replaces). Some patients who have undergone bone marrow transplants are no longer immune to illnesses they had become immune to before the procedure. These patients can be at risk for a number of infections, including COVID-19, but the longer it has been since treatment, the more time your body's immune system has had to improve.
Despite not having a higher risk of becoming infected with the virus than the general population, it should be noted that cancer survivors do have a higher risk of complications if they become infected with COVID-19. This group is also more likely to be hospitalized if they are infected, compared to people who have never had cancer before. To protect themselves from the virus, just like the general population, cancer survivors should use protective measures like wearing cloth masks over surgical masks, maintaining at least six feet of distance, staying home when they can, and washing hands thoroughly and often.
The majority of cancer survivors, who have been cancer-free for at least five years, are likely to have normal immune system functions and are not at an increased risk for COVID-19. However, every body is different so every cancer survivor should speak with a doctor who knows their full medical history and can discuss their personal risks with them.
For some cancer survivors, their previous treatments might impact their risk of getting COVID-19 or having a severe form of the disease, as these treatments can have long term effects on the immune system and cause the survivor to have preexisting conditions that may put them at a higher risk for viral infection. For example, patients who have undergone a bone marrow transplant (also known as a 'stem cell transplant') might not regain a completely functional immune system as the transplant depletes their white blood cell system (which the body then replaces). Some patients who have undergone bone marrow transplants are no longer immune to illnesses they had become immune to before the procedure. These patients can be at risk for a number of infections, including COVID-19, but the longer it has been since treatment, the more time your body's immune system has had to improve.
Despite not having a higher risk of becoming infected with the virus than the general population, it should be noted that cancer survivors do have a higher risk of complications if they become infected with COVID-19. This group is also more likely to be hospitalized if they are infected, compared to people who have never had cancer before. To protect themselves from the virus, just like the general population, cancer survivors should use protective measures like wearing cloth masks over surgical masks, maintaining at least six feet of distance, staying home when they can, and washing hands thoroughly and often.
Context and background
Despite the fact that people who have been cancer-free for five years might have previously had compromised immune systems, once this amount of time has passed since their treatments, their immune system will hopefully mostly or fully have recovered. Generally, cancer survivors with no other preexisting conditions do not have a greater risk of catching the illness than the general population, but every person and their previous treatments are different, and survivors should always talk to their doctors about their health.
Since most COVID-19 research regarding cancer is being done on people currently undergoing treatment, not much is known about people who do not actively have cancer. In general, the more time that has passed since end of treatments, the better, since immune system function can be rebuilt more over several years as opposed to a few months. As our knowledge about cancer and COVID-19 continues to evolve, we will learn more about immune system functions and how previous treatments might impact people's potential risks for becoming infected with the virus.
Despite the fact that people who have been cancer-free for five years might have previously had compromised immune systems, once this amount of time has passed since their treatments, their immune system will hopefully mostly or fully have recovered. Generally, cancer survivors with no other preexisting conditions do not have a greater risk of catching the illness than the general population, but every person and their previous treatments are different, and survivors should always talk to their doctors about their health.
Since most COVID-19 research regarding cancer is being done on people currently undergoing treatment, not much is known about people who do not actively have cancer. In general, the more time that has passed since end of treatments, the better, since immune system function can be rebuilt more over several years as opposed to a few months. As our knowledge about cancer and COVID-19 continues to evolve, we will learn more about immune system functions and how previous treatments might impact people's potential risks for becoming infected with the virus.
Resources
- COVID-19 mortality in patients with cancer on chemotherapy or other anticancer treatments: a prospective cohort study (The Lancet)
- Common Questions About the COVID-19 Outbreak (ACS)
- What Every Cancer Survivor Needs to Know about COVID-19 (MSKCC)
- Are Cancer Survivors at High Risk for COVID-19 (Moffitt)
- Maximizing Fit for Cloth and Medical Procedure Masks to Improve Performance and Reduce SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Exposure, 2021 (U.S. CDC)
- COVID-19 mortality in patients with cancer on chemotherapy or other anticancer treatments: a prospective cohort study (The Lancet)
- Common Questions About the COVID-19 Outbreak (ACS)
- What Every Cancer Survivor Needs to Know about COVID-19 (MSKCC)
- Are Cancer Survivors at High Risk for COVID-19 (Moffitt)
- Maximizing Fit for Cloth and Medical Procedure Masks to Improve Performance and Reduce SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Exposure, 2021 (U.S. CDC)
