LAUSR

The world is passing through a critical phase of uncertainty in public health which is of a magnitude which we have never faced before. This pandemic of the deadly Coronavirus was unprecedented, catching even the most developed countries in a state of total unpreparedness. Our Medical and paramedical fraternities stand today on the frontline of the battlefield and we must be aptly prepared to deal with our patients most effectively. Needless to say, we are in a huge shortfall of resources and manpower. Cancer is also a life-threatening condition that should be dealt with very early and treated holistically with all the armamentarium of different Oncological disciplines based on certain evidence-based guidelines for the best possible outcomes. The problem in the present days is we have to weigh the benefits of cancer treatment against the risks of getting infected with corona virus, which can be more lethal. There are no clear guidelines and different Oncological societies (like SSO, NHS, NCCN) in the developed worlds that have tried to create some which are mostly based on their resources and their profile of patients. Not all of these can be applied in a country like India where Healthcare infrastructure, the Manpower and the patient profiles are all very heterogeneous. We hope the crisis will be over in the coming weeks, especially with some bold steps taken by the Government of India and the State Governments. IASO has taken inputs from many Senior Members of the fraternity and had tried to formulate some guidelines applicable for the first 3 wks of lockdown subject to revisions in the future as per the new situation. It will be the final prerogative of the clinician, based on his scientific understanding to make decisions in the best interest of the patient and the whole nation in general. The decisions must be made on a case-bycase basis based upon the knowledge and understanding of the biology of each cancer, with the help of a multidisciplinary team, and institutional policies. Any suggestions from our side may be overruled by any Orders or diktats which may come from the local or national government authorities from time to time.