The Omicron surge has been truly devastating... for cancer centers. 🧵 1/9
Operating rooms are operating, but on a day by day basis as staff are sent elsewhere to cover. 2/9
I've found myself arguing with surgical colleagues but why "my patient" should go to the OR before "their patient" 3/9
We've again restricted visitors so people who were just told they have cancer are coming in to talk about it with me. Alone. 4/9
Telehealth again being agressively utilized. If not on treatment or requiring urgent visit, strongly encouraging against in person visits 5/9
All of this because of the highly contagious nature of Omicron coupled with segments of our population that have yet to realize the only way out of this is with everyone getting vaccinated 6/9
CDC could help more with greater transparency and communication with all of us. As it stands, even I am mystified about the changing guidance. 7/9
But overall, if we all just cared about our collective freedom, our collective access to care, and our collective well-being, we would be better off. 8/9
So, for cancer providers, people with cancer, and cancer centers everywhere: I am imploring you: Get vaccinated. Get boosted. Wear your mask. Practice physical distancing. And just care. About more than just yourself. Thanks. 9/9
@drdonsdizon I truly don't understand how a cancer center doesn't require the vaxx. At the cancer center around where I live, the vaxx and masks are required for everybody. If you feel even a little sick, they want you to get tested immediately & if you have covid, don't come to work.
@drdonsdizon Your message is heartbreaking, because of the degradation in providing care to patients that need it terribly to stay alive. But more heartbreaking is the reason WHY. Further, the antivaxxers are entirely unreachable, so appealing to their humanity is a wasted effort. It's tragic
@drdonsdizon My dad has cancer. Parents are in their 70s. Mom goes to appts but it's hard getting him to the city, out of a car, going to different buildings. He can go from walking 1 minute to not to walking the next. I go to help and then spend 8 hrs in the car b.c I'm not allowed in, sucks
@drdonsdizon @tnicholsmd My father has stage 3 prostate cancer and living in Florida, we are surrounded by people who refuse to get vaccinated or wear masks, including the staff at his oncologist’s office. It is incredibly frustrating!
@drdonsdizon Outpatient dialysis here in St. Louis is in a complete shambles now for exactly the same reasons. Our pts are largely masked and vaxxed but we can’t control what they do or who they contact when they’re not here. It’s nuts.
@drdonsdizon Thank you🙏🏻 My sister after nearly a yr. of chemo. was cancer free for 2 wks! Her husband had terminal cancer, a nurse was not vac. & contracted Covid IN the hospital,gave it to my sister. He died & she died2 wks later! Her Dr. told her not to get the vaccine. It's devastating💔
@drdonsdizon Thank you. One of my friends who just started radiation just got a positive test, so yeah... I hope people start thinking of people like her instead of being selfish prats.
@drdonsdizon Good luck with that. I’ve observed more people since this started that I used to respect and care for including family members reveal who they truly are. It quickly became obvious that they care about no one, whether family, friends or strangers. No one but themselves.
@drdonsdizon I’m vaxxed boosted and wear a kn95 or n95.