Cancer patients, like other people impacted by the coronavirus, may experience mild to severe symptoms. If you feel you are experiencing symptoms, call your oncology provider’s office or our COVID-19 hotline at (646) 697-4000 for guidance.
Do not underestimate the power of a full night’s sleep (7 to 8 hours), aerobic exercise (preferably at home or outdoors, versus a gym) and a balanced diet (with plenty of fruits and vegetables) for bolstering the immune system.
How can I make sure I am taking the appropriate precautions when shopping for groceries?
If you are not feeling well, or have any COVID-19 symptoms, it’s best to avoid leaving your home. Instead, order groceries to be delivered or ask for help from family, neighbors, friends, or others. If you are feeling well and not exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms, be sure to wear a mask or face covering and practice social distancing guidelines when shopping for groceries and other essentials. Wash your hands thoroughly when you return home. Be mindful if your store has designated hours for seniors and those with health conditions that make them more vulnerable to infection. Also, try to stock up on two weeks’ worth of food for your household which can help minimize trips to the store.
You may wish to take extra precautions with your groceries by:
Additional information can be found in this Weill Cornell Medicine article containing Tips for New Yorkers During PAUSE.
Are there additional precautions I should take when cleaning my clothes?
Many New Yorkers are not able to do laundry at home, so laundromats remain open and available throughout PAUSE. While in a communal laundry setting, be sure to practice social distancing and wash your hands multiple times. Disinfect any hard surface before placing clean clothes on it. Wash your clothing with the warmest water possible. For some clothing and bedding, consider using a detergent with a bleach compound that will destroy the virus. You may also want to consider changing your clothes immediately after coming home from a public space, such as the grocery store, to help minimize spreading the virus in your home.
Additional information can be found in this Weill Cornell Medicine article containing Tips for New Yorkers During PAUSE.
Are you currently accepting new patients?
A cancer diagnosis can feel scary at any time, but people recently diagnosed with cancer should not feel alone during this difficult time. Our Weill Cornell Medicine cancer experts are here for you and still accepting new patients for both initial consultations and second opinions.
Our team has been implementing extensive patient-centered precautions as part of our commitment to continue to provide cancer care and prevent the spread of COVID-19 at our facilities. We have also expanded our video-based appointment capabilities, as telehealth can be a great resource for many cancer patients. Additionally, we are still able to provide telephone consults and to facilitate work-ups and referrals when needed. Please contact us at (646) 962-2800 to inquire about making an appointment or scheduling a video visit.
Should cancer patients attend appointments as usual?
Weill Cornell Medicine is taking a number of precautionary steps to minimize the risk of exposure to our patients and community.
Our hematologists and oncologists offer video visits when appropriate. Many routine visits, consultations and follow-up visits with our providers have already been rescheduled or converted to video visits.
Video visits allow patients to receive high-quality care from the safety and convenience of their own homes, while adhering to social distancing recommendations to minimize exposure to other individuals.
To schedule a video visit, please follow the instructions below.
- New Patients - Call (646) 962-2800, and ask to schedule a video visit with your preferred physician.
- Existing Patients - Call your physician’s office, and ask to schedule a video visit.
Please be aware that the location of some in-person infusion or treatment visits may change. Your healthcare team will be in touch with you if this is the case for your visit.
Can patients’ family and friends attend in-person appointments?
While we recognize the value of family and friends’ support throughout cancer diagnosis and treatment, keeping patients and their loved ones safe from coronavirus infection requires temporary changes to our visitor policies. Read our current visitation guidelines.
What should cancer patients do if they think that they have been infected?
If you have COVID-19 symptoms or suspect that you have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, contact your doctor for further instruction. If you need in-person medical attention, your doctor will advise you regarding the necessary steps and preparations to protect you and others at the facility before you arrive.
Please do not visit your doctor’s office or the emergency department without first being in touch with your healthcare team.
Our patients are welcome to call our hotline at (646) 697-4000 with questions at any time.
For More Information
Please listen to the latest podcast episode of CancerCast featuring Drs. John Leonard and Adrienne Phillips, M.D., M.P.H. about "Cancer in the Time of COVID-19."
