Cancer and transplants surgeries are "not essentials?"

[question everything]

See the full story here

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016252214


But then In New York, Overflow Hospitals At Javits And On Navy Ship Have Been Largely Empty

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/06/827995726/in-new-york-overflow-hospitals-at-javits-and-on-navy-ship-have-been-largely-empt

So why not have at least cancer surgeries there? I don't know if they can accommodate transplants but certainly should be able to performs breast and prostate ones.

[EllieBC]

1. Up here some aren't.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/how-is-covid-19-affecting-other-medical-procedures-1.4883666

Even though depending on province, many hospitals are not experiencing the crush of COVID cases expected. Now there’s going to be a backlog of surgery cases and death from that.

[Sanity Claws]

2. Transplant recipients will need ICU after surgery, right?

I think the major concerns are:
retaining ICU beds for COVID patients only; and
preventing COVID from spreading to others who may come for other reasons. I imagine transplant recipients and those in cancer treatment seem to be particularly vulnerable.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

3. This not happening in my area, thank goodness

My MIL was just diagnosed with cancer and she will probably have a surgery in the coming weeks to remove a tumor. It is senseless to ignore other diseases because of COVID-19 and that approach will certainly shorten many more lives. It seems contrary to what the goal of all of this is.

[LisaL]

14. I don't think they are ignoring the other patients on purpose.

They have no choice. If the hospital is full of covid patients, last thing you want to do is to have an immuno suppressed person in there.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

16. EllieBC's post

referenced hospitals that were cancelling life saving surgeries to make way for COVID-19 patients that they don't even have. That seems like some bad planning. I think how the situation is handled varies by the area, but it shouldn't be handled like that.

[EllieBC]

23. Vancouver is definitely not full.

Yet surgeries have been put off.

I guess when that stage II breast cancer turns to stage IV they can say “mistakes were made” and offer condolences.

[HarlanPepper]

4. Yep some prostate procedures are outpatient anyway

[kas125]

5. My brother in law's brother has lung cancer and was supposed to have surgery

to remove part of his lung last month. It's been postponed twice already and they told him Friday that they have no idea when they can reschedule it now.

[question everything]

6. I honestly wonder whether patients should inquire in Canada - some places

and in Central America.

That is, if they are well enough to travel.

And.. mammograms are delayes.

[kas125]

9. I know it's what terrifies me -

I'm not really afraid of getting the virus, I don't go anywhere anyway. But getting sick or getting hurt now and needing to go to the hospital when they're already overwhelmed scares the hell out of me. Last night my son, who lives with me, looked outside and one of his brake lights was on. He went out, started the car, then hopped out and started messing with something while the car was running and the door was open... all I could see was that car running him over or something and yelled to SHUT THAT DAMNED THING OFF if you're going to fix it. He thought I was nuts, lol.

[LisaL]

13. Yep, you do not want to be in the ER right now for any reason other than covid.

Covid patients are in there and if you go into the ER you are likely to get infected.

[ismnotwasm]

7. We are doing Transplants

Just not living related transplants at this time

[phylny]

8. It depends.

Six years ago, my breast cancer was diagnosed in December and I didn't have surgery until March 31. Obviously, it was not an aggressive cancer, but nonetheless, that's what happened to me.

[question everything]

11. Agree. But at least you had a date

No one knows when things will return to “normal” - whatever normal means.

[MuseRider]

10. I know things have changed

since my ICU days but I would think transplants would need to be really securely away from infectious possibilities and that doing them in any hospital that is going through the Corona virus calamity would not be a good idea.

Perhaps they are just moving these patients out of the transplant facilities who also have Covid 19 patients. I just remember the isolation needed after transplant. I was not on a transplant ward but in the ICU we were pretty much kept informed.

[LisaL]

12. If they have covid patients in the hospital, transplant patients and cancer patients are likely to

be doomed. They are immuno suppressed. Covid will do them in.

[question everything]

18. This is why I wonder about the naval ship hospitals.

Not sure about transplants but I think that breast and prostate surgeries, which are on outpatient basis should be accommodated there.

[Ex Lurker]

15. I read yesterday that essentially all non-Covid clinical trials have been halted too nt

[Glimmer of Hope]

17. I am currently on an immunotherapy therapy trial for ovarian cancer and it has not been halted.

Is it possible you read that recruitment has been halted?

[helpisontheway]

19. Wow..my friend just had breast cancer surgery removed last week in Virginia. Nt

[cynatnite]

20. These aren't simple decisions...

Pros and cons have to be weighed. Patients have to decide if they want their surgery in a hospital that may very well have a covid-19 patient. Doctors have to weigh the risk to the patient and how it impacts their health.

[question everything]

21. This is why I brought the Navy hospitals ships. They are not designated for Covid-19

and, I think, should be able to preform outpatients surgeries like Breast and prostate.

[cynatnite]

22. They probably could perform those surgeries...

But space is very limited on those hospital ships. I got to visit the Comfort years ago and it's not that roomy.

Given the situation, outpatient surgeries will be pushed off as long as possible depending on the patient's health.