The Effect of Natural Disasters on Cancer Care: A Systematic Review

Abstract

food. Managing disease-specific symptoms associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental health, and respiratory diseases were primary concerns following a disaster. Stress and anxiety, loss of sleep, weakness or fatigue and shortness of breath were common concerns for all noncommunicable diseases. Those dependent on care from others were most worried about shortness of breath and slow healing sores. Accessing medication and medical services were priorities for all patients post-disaster. Discussion: The key influences on successful self-management post disaster for people with noncommunicable diseases must be reflected in disaster plans and strategies. Achieving this will reduce exacerbations or complications of disease and decrease demand for emergency health care post-disaster.

Association of Surgical Delay and Overall Survival in Patients With T2 Renal Masses: Implications for Critical Clinical Decision-making During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The implications of treatment delay for patients with cancer is understandably on many patients' and clinicians' minds during these uncertain times. [22][23][24] The literature is limited in addressing the association surgical delay with oncologic outcomes in patients with large renal masses. Published reports largely consist of retrospective single institution studies.…”

The Effect of Exposure to Disaster on Cancer Survival

“…Our finding that individuals diagnosed with cancer who were exposed to Hurricane Katrina have worse longterm survival is supported by a recent systematic review showing that disasters interrupt the continuity of oncology care. 1 It is likely that many individuals in our study experienced a disruption in access to healthcare that ultimately affected outcomes. Indeed, treatment disruptions as short as one week have been associated with cancer-related mortality.…”

“…The frequency and intensity of weather and climate-related disasters that have devastating effects on millions of Americans is expected to increase due to climate change. 1,2 While the direct death toll of disasters is well-recognized, 3 little is known regarding how the impact of disasters and their resultant disruption on healthcare affect health outcomes among individuals with serious health conditions and complex healthcare needs. We examined 10-year survival among a large sample of cancer patients diagnosed in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.…”

The Paradoxical Effects of COVID-19 on Cancer Care: Current Context and Potential Lasting Impacts

“…Thus, questions of rationing and what constitutes essential and nonessential care came to be a central focus of economic modeling, ethical reflection, and social concern (26). In this, COVID-19 is not entirely unprecedented, previous catastrophes including various natural disasters have been studied extensively for their impacts on health care (27)(28)(29). There is evidence that similar large-scale events, which we can broadly be considered as having a similar scale of health system disruption to COVID-19, have considerable impacts on cancer care including significant treatment interruptions, reduced capacity to manage treatment side-effects, and delays in patients receiving standard care with impacts on survival (27)(28)(29).…”