COVID-19 and Prostate Cancer
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),adults 60 years and older and those with an underlying health condition or compromised immune system appear to develop serious coronavirus symptoms more often than others. However, it should be noted that prostate cancer patients receiving radiotherapy and/or hormonal therapy are not immuno-compromised more than others in their age group.
It should also be noted that major surgery such as radical prostatectomy (whether robotic or by hand) can traumatize the body and suppress the immune system. Surgery breaks the skin and underlying tissues, which can allow germs or pathogens to enter the body. If an infection occurs, it can happen right away or later during the healing process while the patient is convalescing.
With all forms of cancer, chemotherapy does impact the immune system. We have no patients on chemotherapy at the Dattoli Cancer Center. Instead of prescribing chemo for patients with hormone-resistant disease, we use a variety of therapeutic agents including Zytiga (abiraterone) and Xtandi (enzalutamide), which are not immuno-suppressive. None of our patients are at greater risk for serious COVID-19 infection due to compromised immune systems, even men with metastatic disease.
Dattoli Center Visitor Guidance During COVID-19
Nothing is more important at this time than your health and safety and that of your family. To protect our patients while maintaining clinical care activities, the Dattoli Team, has a number of practical safeguards in place to ensure against COVID-19 transmission for our visitors and staff. We are following the CDC safety guidelines and encourage you to do the same. Please visit the coronavirus pages of the CDC website (www.cdc.com) for a number of measures that you can take to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community.