We know that our patients undergoing blood and marrow transplants (also called stem cell transplants) or undergoing cellular therapy (such as CAR T-Cell therapy) — and their caregivers and families — have questions related to care during this time. Our hospitals and clinics have strict infection-prevention protocols and systems in place to keep patients, visitors and health care workers safe.
For everyone's sake, we are taking
extra safety precautions in our clinics and hospitals, including more frequent cleaning, screening at entrances, and social distancing in our registration and waiting areas.
Have COVID-like Symptoms? Call Before Your Appointment
If you have COVID-19 symptoms before an upcoming appointment or if you fear that you have been exposed to the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, please call your provider's office or our nurse phone line —
800-926-8273 — to discuss your symptoms before coming to your scheduled appointment. Symptoms include fever, new cough, new shortness of breath or recent loss of taste or smell. For a complete and updated list, visit the federal COVID-19 symptoms page.
Video Visits
Our physicians and care teams will also review our schedules and contact patients whose visits may be appropriate to convert to
MyUCSDChart video visits. We will make every effort to ensure this is a smooth and easy experience for you.
Visitor Restrictions for Clinic Appointments, Infusion and Radiation Treatments
For those coming to appointments — from evaluation before transplant/cellular therapy to follow-up after transplant/cellular therapy — be aware that we are currently following a strict no-visitor policy with very limited exceptions. This policy also covers clinic visits, infusion center visits and treatments, and radiation visits and treatments. We encourage caregivers and family members to participate by phone or video, with the provider's consent, during your patient's appointment. For more information, see our
regularly updated visitor restrictions page.
FAQs for Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Patients
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Older adults (age 60 and older) and those with serious chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, lung disease and cancer are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19. Patients who are immunocompromised are also at higher risk.
Being immunocompromised means having a weakened immune system. White blood cells fight infections. If white blood cell counts are low or the white blood cells are not functioning well, the body cannot fight infections effectively.
Immunocompromised patients can include those with cancer, being treated with chemotherapy, who are undergoing an autologous or allogeneic stem cell/bone marrow transplant, and those who are undergoing cellular therapy (such as CAR T-cell therapy). Allogeneic transplant recipients who are taking immunosuppressants (medications to prevent donor immune cells from attacking the transplant recipient’s body) are at increased risk because these medications also impair the immune system’s ability to fight threats like viruses, bacteria and fungi.
Immunocompromised patients can also include patients with HIV and those with other known immunodeficiencies.
A recent study of patients with cancer who had COVID-19 found that patients who had undergone chemotherapy or surgery in the previous month had a higher risk compared with those who had not received recent treatment. The risk of severe illness from COVID-19 appears to be higher in patients with more than one chronic medical condition.
Patients undergoing active treatment for cancer are presumably at higher risk than those who are in remission. Patients in their first year after stem cell transplantation or cellular therapy (such as CAR T-cell) could be at higher risk for severe illness and complications if infected by COVID-19. Those who are beyond one year after transplantation and still considered immunocompromised may also have an elevated risk for complications.
That is why it's important to take precautions to prevent infection.
To protect everyone's health and well-being, we encourage you to follow local and state protocols, and avoid being exposed to the coronavirus. Here are other steps to take if you're at higher risk from COVID-19:
- If there's a stay-at-home order in your region, do not go out except for taking care of essential needs.
- Have a 30-day supply of all medications, and request refills at least 7 days before running out.
- Practice social distancing.
-
Wear a mask — a bandana, scarf or homemade face covering — if you leave home for any essential purpose.
- Avoid crowded places and close contact with sick or unmasked people.
- Stay home when you're sick.
- Try not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water (for 20 seconds) or use hand sanitizer.
- A caregiver should clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, like keyboards, phones, remote controls and door handles, and thoroughly wash glasses and utensils.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze — or use the crook of your arm — and throw the tissue in the trash. Then wash your hands with soap and water.
- Get a
flu shot (please discuss first with your transplant team regarding when to get your flu shot).
- Don't travel to places with widespread or sustained community transmission of the novel coronavirus. Visit the
CDC's travel advisory page for reliable travel information.
- Practice healthy habits to boost your immune system: Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.
Decisions about postponing cancer treatment, blood and marrow transplant and cellular therapy must be made on an individual basis in consultation with your doctor. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your doctor's office.
The risk of acquiring COVID-19 from a donor is low. Donors are being screened for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure history, including travel. At UC San Diego Health, we are testing our related donors for COVID-19 prior to the donor’s collection. We only accept donors who test negative for the novel coronavirus.
All organ procurement organizations are testing all donors for COVID-19. Donors who have been to high-risk areas or have been exposed to someone diagnosed or evaluated for COVID-19 infection are generally asked to postpone donation for 14 to 28 days after exposure or return from travel. They are tested prior to stem cell donation, as well.
Also, donors are asked to not travel to high-risk areas for at least 14 days before donation and to monitor themselves for symptoms. At UC San Diego Health, we have continued to safely perform lifesaving transplants during this pandemic.
Yes, you should continue to take your immunosuppressive medications as prescribed and follow your transplant team’s advice. Try to keep a 30-day supply of all medications, and request refills at least 7 days before running out.
Please contact your physician's office about opportunities for mailed prescriptions. We are also offering curbside prescription pickup at
Moores Cancer Center in La Jolla.
No. All therapeutic cancer clinical trials at UC San Diego Health are open for new patients and for continuation of treatment for patients currently on a study. We also continue to open new clinical trials to ensure that our patients can participate in the latest research. Cancer is not taking a timeout during COVID-19.
Yes. Antibacterial wipes should be used to clean the steering wheel, door handles, gear shift and any other buttons or levers that might have been touched by someone else. If you are a post-transplant or post-cellular therapy patient, please follow your health care team’s guidance regarding what type of ride sharing is advisable (such as Uber and Lyft) as well as when it is safe for you to resume driving again.
Yes, masks are a simple, yet effective tactic, in slowing the spread of the virus, so
it’s crucial we wear masks to protect ourselves and others. UC San Diego Health requires patients, visitors and staff in our facilities to wear face coverings or masks that cover the nose and mouth.
The CDC recommends that anyone who leaves their home for any purpose should wear a facial covering — such as a bandana, scarf or
homemade mask — while maintaining social distancing and hand hygiene.
San Diego County health officials have mandated that people must wear masks in public settings when they're within 6 feet of other people. Businesses also must require their employees and others to wear a face covering at the workplace.
See
more information on masks and tips for achieving a proper fit.
We recognize the importance of our classes and support groups and have worked to transition many of our in-person events to Zoom videoconferencing. Please visit
Cancer Services Patient and Family Events to learn more.
Caregivers should follow county public health orders and CDC guidelines and are encouraged to do the following:
- Practice social distancing.
-
Wear a mask — a bandana, scarf or homemade face covering — if leaving home for any essential purpose.
- Avoid crowded places and close contact with sick people.
- Try not to touch their eyes, nose and mouth.
- Wash hands often with soap and water (for 20 seconds) or use hand sanitizer.
- Routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, like keyboards, phones, remote controls and door handles, and thoroughly wash glasses and utensils.
- Cancel non-esstential travel, including to places with widespread or sustained community transmission of the novel coronavirus. Check the
CDC's travel advisory page for reliable travel information.
- Have enough household items, over-the-counter medical supplies and groceries available to limit the need to go out to the store.
- Consider delivery services for groceries and other household items.
- Get a
flu shot.
- Practice healthy habits: Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.
See
all COVID-19 FAQs and
frequently updated information about UC San Diego Health care and services.