Thank you for contacting me about cancer treatment during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
When people start treatment for cancer, their medical team works with them to balance the risks and benefits of treatment before agreeing a plan.
As a result of the pandemic, it may be that doctors consider the risks of certain treatments, particularly those that weaken the immune system, to be much greater than normal. They will take into consideration how urgent the treatment is: in some cases, delaying treatment might not make a big difference to the outcome. Patients with cancer visit hospitals regularly, but for those who are particularly vulnerable, this is more risky than usual as it may result in exposure to the virus.
Continued on attachment below...