COVID-19 Response
SURVEY: IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON US MELANOMA PATIENTS
COVID-19 has posed an incredible challenge to the cancer community. Now more than ever, melanoma patients and their care partners need the support and assistance of advocacy organizations. In June 2020, the MRF launched a survey in partnership with Save Your Skin Foundation (SYSF), a patient-led,
not-for-profit organization in Canada. Minor edits were made to make it specific to melanoma patients in the US and those with rare melanoma subtypes, allowing both organizations to compare the impact of the pandemic between the two countries.
KEY FINDINGS
Sponsored by Silver Level sponsors Merck & Pfizer, Bronze Level sponsor Novartis and Industry Start-Up Level Sponsor Castle Biosciences
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Recently stopped checkpoint inhibitor treatment due to moderate to severe AEs. Not sure how I would do with COVID-19. Assume I am high risk so have elected to self-isolate. Very difficult to get information about COVID risks for people using or recently completed checkpoint inhibitors.
Approximately 85% of respondents reported some amount of disruption in treatment, care or follow-up appointments. Approximately 70% of respondents reported “a lot” or “some” difficulty connecting to one of their healthcare providers.
171
Responses
39
States
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I am 80, my husband’s 92. There’s no way we’re going to a healthcare
identified as melanoma patients
148
provider until they test daily themselves and their workers.
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Additional surveys and assessments will follow as the MRF continues to monitor and mitigate COVID-19’s impact on the melanoma community.
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