How is our isolated existence different from a month ago? In many ways… we know a lot more about COVID-19; much still to learn, but lessons are emerging:
But our greatest change from ten weeks ago, when normalcy, security, and the economy simply dissolved before us, is a growing confidence that this condition can be managed, both at a societal level (who knew that epidemiologists would be rock stars?), and for the most part at a patient level. Introspection yields to the demands of the quotidian. Welcome back, EA members who have re-opened clinical research activities. Welcome back, research nurses and data coordinators who relish re-engaging with their patients and studies. Welcome back, laboratory colleagues, whose work underpins our protocols (and powers local economies). As we all hit the “restart” button, let’s appreciate being able to exercise our chosen profession in however much of the pre-COVID environment we can reconstruct. We have work to do!
In this issue, we call attention to a timely initiative led by our colleagues at the NCI: a clinical study of people with cancer who have COVID-19. NCI will provide full reimbursement for each patient enrolled on this study, called COVID-19 in Cancer Patients Study (NNCAPS). With sorrow, we remember Valerie Guild, founder and president of AIM at Melanoma and a patient advocate on our Melanoma Committee for more than a decade. We also share emotional support resources that may prove helpful as we navigate the demands of providing health care in the era of COVID-19. And, this month we highlight the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. Led by Kathy Miller, MD, Indiana University has been a leader in ECOG-ACRIN since they joined in 1986.
Read the May 2020 issue here.