Impact of COVID-19 Fear on Cancer Patient Follow-up

The COVID-19 disease, caused by the novel SARSCoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2), was declared as a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization in February 2020. The novelty of the virus along with no known cure available for infection & serious illness resulting because of it, led to immense fear in the public during the pandemic while compliance of many people with social distancing, masking and sanitising protocols was low, more so in populations where infectious disease burden is high. The lockdown situation was challenging for both health-care facilities and cancer patients alike. Patients due for post treatment follow-up visits were not able to physically attend clinics due to lack of transport, restrictions on movement and limited availability of services. The lockdown had its psychological impact on the population with high stress levels particularly among patients of chronic diseases who were more prone to succumb to severe infection. The aim of this study was to assess level of fear and anxiety among cancer survivors who were due for post-treatment follow-up using a validated questionnaire. Thus, strategies were implemented to assess the type and severity of anxiety or fear among patients using a validated Fear of Corona Virus 19 (FCV 19S) scale by doing telephonic follow-up. The results reflected that fear of dying from severe infection due to increased susceptibility to SARSCoV2 was significant as was the fear of recurrence. The method of telephonic follow-up was found to be useful for health care providers and reassuring for most patients and can prove to be a good modality of service delivery in appropriate settings.