Total COVID patient numbers are steady at The University of Kansas Health System, 184 today, 186 yesterday
- 89 with active virus, 95 yesterday
- 26 in ICU, same as yesterday
- 14 on ventilators, same as yesterday
- 95 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 91 yesterday
Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Roy Jensen, vice chancellor and director, The University of Kansas Cancer Center
- Participating in two-year NCI study of impact of COVID on cancer patients
- Many cancer treatments compromise a patient’s immune system leaving them more vulnerable to COVID
- Encouraged by President Biden’s “Cancer Moonshot” initiative to reduce the cancer death rate by 50% over the next 25 years.
- Cancer is many different diseases and need to find a cure for each kind. For example, breast cancer treatment has no effect on lung cancer.
- Cancer research helps find cures for other diseases
Dr. Ronald Chen, chair, Radiation Oncology
- Led research study showing 9 million cancer screenings missed during COVID. That trend still continues today. It’s “absolutely safe” to get screenings.
- Most commonly missed screenings are for breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer and cervical cancer.
- Those missed screenings will lead to more advanced cancer and higher death rates
- “If every cancer were diagnosed at stage 1, we can cure almost everybody.”
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control
- The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force web site is a good source for screening recommendations.
Friday, February 4 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. Demand by COVID patients is high and the list of complications is growing among long haulers. Doctors break down the top symptoms and share rare consequences of COVID. We’ll also update PPE shortages, and the anticipated increase in therapeutics including oral antivirals and monoclonal antibodies.
ATTENTION: media procedure for joining:
Zoom link: https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628
Telephone Zoom link: 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 782 897 8628
TVU Grid link: UoK_Health_SDI
Restream links: Facebook.com/kuhospital
YouTube.com/kuhospital
Send advance questions to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.
