ALK-positive Lung Cancer and COVID-19: Update

Written 7.1.20

We’ve been living with COVID-19 for six months now and we know so much more, not only about this virus, but how it affects people living with lung cancer.

ALK POSITIVE SUPPORT GROUP Members Host COVID-19 Q&A with DR. Lam

In the beginning of June, our amazing members, Amanda Nerstad and Chel Gorombol, conduct an exhaustive Q&A with ALK-positive lung cancer expert Dr. Lam.

Watch to learn about the latest findings about how COVID-19 affects those with lung cancer.

Thank you Amanda, Chel and Dr. Lam for taking the time to share this valuable information with us.

IMPORTANT STUDY ON COVID-19 AND LUNG CANCER

A study from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC (with 102 patients) found that:

“There was no significant association between COVID-19 severity and cancer-specific factors, such as the presence of active or metastatic disease, histology, and PD-L1 expression levels, nor between severity and recent (within 1–6 weeks of the SARS-CoV-2 test) immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or targeted therapy.”

Yes, you read that right. No significant association between COVID-19 and targeted therapies! Considering that the majority of stage IV ALK patients are on targeted therapies this is a very big deal.

So, what are the risk factors?

“The study authors also found that patient-related features were ‘the greatest determinants’ of COVID-19 severity in this cohort. For instance, people who smoked a median of 23.5 pack–years had a threefold increased risk for death from COVID-19 versus never smokers. The presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was associated with a nearly fourfold increased risk. Similarly, older age and hypertension were both significantly associated with an elevated risk for hospitalization and severe COVID-19.”

Please keep in mind that this is a small study and that the results may not be replicated in future studies. Read the full article here.

Want to see other additional studies that have been conducted about this same topic? Click here.

HOW TO STAY SAFE

In addition to CDC recommendations, like social distancing, staying 6 feet apart, and wearing a mask, research has been coming out about the highest-risk activities to avoid. The three articles linked below are excellent, vetted, scientific articles.

NPR: From Camping To Dining Out: Here's How Experts Rate The Risks Of 14 Summer Activities

The New Yorker: How to Maintain Social Distance as the U.S. Reopens

Erin Bromage, Infectious Disease Expert, Blog: The Risks - Know Them - Avoid Them

Resources

While our first source of information should be the World Health Organization, and our respective government health departments (eg: CDC, NHS, PHAOC, ADOH) the information below is specifically about lung cancer, has been verified, created or curated by experts.

  1. Website: Joint Statements on Coronavirus (COVID-19) from Lung Cancer Advocacy Groups

    Of all of the resources, this one is the most important. It is updated weekly with essential and pertinent information, curated by the lung cancer groups, including LUNGevity and GO2 Foundation.

    • Updated weekly on Monday at 1PM EST.

  2. Podcast: IASLC COVID-19 Facts and Impacts for the Lung Cancer Community

    Discussion of the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on lung cancer patients and healthcare providers. Featuring Janet Freeman- Daily, writer, lung cancer patient, advocate and Twitter chat moderator of the Lung Cancer Social Media chat (#LCSMchat), Dr. Amy Moore, Director of Science and Research at the Go2 Foundation, Dr. Upal Basu Roy, Vice President of Research at LUNGevity Foundation, and Dr. Lecia Sequist, Director of Center for Innovation and Early Cancer Detection at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Landry Family Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

  3. Learn more at these websites created exclusively about lung cancer and COVID-19: LUNGevity, GO2, IASLC.

Assistance

If you are suffering financially because of COVID-19, these may be able to help:

  1. LUNGevity Launches Breathe Easier: An Emergency Response Fund for COVID-19

  2. CancerCare Financial Assistance Program for COVID-19

If you’re feeling unwelcome stress and anxiety, please know that this is normal and there are resources to help:

  1. CDC on Stress and Coping during COVID-19

  2. Cure Magazine: How Patients with Cancer, and Survivors, Can Manage Stress Through COVID-19 Uncertainty

  3. LUNGevity’s Helpline: 844-360-5864

  4. Free excellent meditations about anxiety, overwhelm and stress at Headspace and Calm

  5. Check in with your ALK Positive Support Group, we are here for you!

Cori Casebeer