How breast cancer patient survived Covid
People undergoing chemotherapy are at higher risk because of weaker immunity
When 39- year- old Filipina Mary J, a UAE resident for 11 years, was diagnosed with Covid- 19 on May 11, itwas a blessing in disguise.
The unit manager at a popular amusement centre in Abu Dhabi had been undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer since March 2019 at the NMC Specialty Hospital in Abu Dhabi. The hospital conducts Covid- 19 tests once every two weeks for all cancer patients and was able to discover Mary was positive in time to manage her condition well.
Family history of cancer
Dr Mohannad Diab, head of the department of oncology at NMC Specialty, said Mary, a non- smoker and non- drinker, was diagnosed with a right breast invasive ductal carcinoma in 2018 as she had a family history of cancer and had been undergoing screening regularly. Mary had a lumpectomy in 1997 in the Philippines. In addition, her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer and her maternal grandmother had skin cancer.
The mother of two underwent excisional biopsy and had completed 15 cycles of chemotherapy when she tested positive. “I was confident about my cancer treatment under Dr Diab, but also very focused on beating Covid- 19. I am a single earner as my husband is a stayathome dad, I had no choice but to get better,” Mary said.
The hospital stopped chemotherapy and asked Mary to quarantine at home. Mary was able to recover soon and after testing negative, resumed her chemotherapy from June 14, Dr Diab said.
I am the single earner in the family as my husband is a stay- at- home dad, I had no choice but to get better.”
Higher vulnerability
Mary J | UAE resident for 11 years
Explaining the high risk faced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, Dr Diab said: “Cancer treatments usually suppress or weaken the immune system. Most of these treatments lower the count of white blood cells, which makes the patient highly susceptible to catching any kind of infection.”
He added: “When the WBCs are destroyed, the body has fewer neutrophils, which puts cancer patients at high risk of infection and exposure to Covid19 during these times has to be minimised at all costs.”