Mumbai: Cancer patient undergoes radiation while Covid-19 positive

Savitri ben tested Covid-19 positive a day before her radiotherapy was to begin

A Breast cancer patient underwent a successful brain radiation therapy while positive for Covid-19. Taking a call after the patient tested positive just a day before therapy was supposed to start, doctors decided to go ahead with it as the 60-year-old's condition was rapidly deteriorating and she needed urgent intervention. During the pandemic, many cancer patients have been affected by delayed treatment.

"The patient, Savitri ben was suffering from breast cancer that had spread to her brain and other parts of the body. The MRI showed a brain lesion that had caused swelling in the brain tissue that also caused the brain to shift. The brain tumour also led to weakness on the right side of her body with slurred speech and disorientation with regard to time and situation," said Dr. Suresh Advani, consultant, Medical Oncology, Reliance Hospital, Navi Mumbai.

The Mulund resident was unable to identify her relatives and could barely walk. "She was deteriorating fast and we knew she needed radiation therapy on her whole brain at the earliest," said Dr. Advani.

Huge dilemma

However, her RT-PCR test before undergoing the therapy came positive, leading to a dilemma for doctors on whether to go ahead.

Dr. Deepak P Kumar, Savitri ben's radiation oncologist, said, "We planned the entire treatment and made a schedule to begin delivering the radiation. She turning positive for Covid-19 just a day before the treatment led to a huge dilemma. On the one hand, we could not afford to wait as her condition was deteriorating rapidly and any further delay could lead to permanent deterioration of brain function. On the other, there was the challenge of giving radiation with the risk of spreading the infection."

A detailed Covid-19 protocol was devised with coordination between the Radiation Oncology team, the Hospital Infection Control team, clinical administration, and the patient's family. Dr Kumar said that for 10 days of the treatment, Savitri ben was taken as the last patient on the Linear Accelerator and treated by limited staff. She given symptomatic treatment for Covid-19 at home. The radiotherapy ended on May 17.

No Covid-19 symptoms

Savitri ben tolerated the radiation therapy well and did not develop any Covid-19 related symptoms. Post-therapy, she was able to walk without support and recognise her relatives and talk to them.

"While our body's immune system can help us face Covid-19 in almost 90 per cent of the cases, this is not the case with cancer. Our body's immunity alone can't fight cancer. We have to treat cancer with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. Delaying cancer treatment for the fear of Covid-19 or any other reason can lead to progression of cancer and thus reduce the chances of cure," said Dr. Advani.

"We had to do 15 sessions. Since she was asymptomatic, we didn't admit her. For every session, I use to take her to the hospital. For 10 sessions, we both wore PPEs and travelled to the hospital," said Savitri ben's son, who did not wish to be named.

May 17
Day Savitri ben's radiotherapy concluded