Dr. Bertino on the Impact of COVID-19 on Patients With Lung Cancer

Erin M. Bertino, MD, a medical oncologist at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—James, discusses the potential impact of the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) on patients with lung cancer.

Patients with thoracic malignancies may be especially vulnerable to COVID-19 because they are also predisposed to pneumonitis and pneumonia. Additionally, these patients, some of whom are smokers, may have underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart disease, says Bertino.

In order to reduce the risk of contracting the virus, Bertino recommends patients avoid those who are sick and large crowds until the virus can be contained. Additionally, patients who are already sick should avoid coming to the clinic to reduce the spread of the virus to other immunocompromised individuals, concludes Bertino.