Background: The world, and Italy on the front lines, has experienced a major medical emergency due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Cancer patients are one of the potentially most vulnerable cohorts of people, but data about their management are still few. Patients and Methods: In this monocentric retrospective study we included all SARS-CoV-2 oncological patients accepted, between March 27th and April 19th 2020, at the Onco-COVID Unit at San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, one of the few Italian oncological-COVID wards. Data were obtained from medical records. Results: Eighteen
cancer patients with
COVID-19 were included. The mean (±SD) age of patients was 67 ± 14 years, 89% were men. Seven (39%) developed
infection in communities and 11 (61%) during hospitalization.
Lung cancer was the most frequent type of
cancer (10, 56%). Seven patients (39%) were symptomatic for
COVID-19 at the time of diagnosis and symptoms began 2 (±2) days before. The most common were
shortness of breath and
diarrhea.
Fever was present in 5 patients (28%). Among the 11 asymptomatic patients, 8 (73%) became symptomatic during the hospitalization (mean time of symptoms onset 4 days ±4). Six patients (33%) were on active anti-
tumor treatment: 2 (33%) received anti-
tumor therapy within 2 weeks before the
infection diagnosis and 2 (33%) continued oncological treatment after SARS-CoV-2 positivity. Eight (44%) patients died within a mean of 12 days (±8) from the
infection diagnosis. Conclusions: Our series confirms the high mortality among
cancer patients with
COVID-19. The presence of asymptomatic cases evidences that typical symptoms and
fever are not the only parameters to suspect the
infection. The Onco-Covid unit suggests the importance of a tailored and holistic approach, even in this difficult situation.