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Context: We describe the treatment of cancer patients carried out in a Government of India-designated, dedicated coronavirus disease (COVID) hospital (DCH) in a COVID hotspot in India. Aims: The aim was to study the change and delay in the management of cancer patients during the pandemic and its complications. Settings and Design: This was an observational cohort study conducted at a tertiary care center, which was also a DCH. Subjects and Methods: Cancer patients receiving cancer surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy in our DCH, during the lockdown, were studied. Results: A total of 864 patients received treatment for cancer in our hospital during the period of March 20, 2020 – May 31, 2020. There were no COVID-related complications. The treatment of 109/864 patients (12.61%) was delayed due to the pandemic and lockdown situation and the treatment plan was changed for 84/864 (9.72%) patients. There were 21 deaths in these 864 patients (2.43%), but only two deaths were COVID related. Symptomatic patients were tested for COVID, and 3/864 patients (0.34%) were detected to be COVID positive.Conclusions: We successfully delivered cancer treatment to patients in our DCH. The percentage of adverse effects, symptomatic COVID infection, and related mortality has been very low in our study. Cancer care can be continued with due diligence even during this pandemic.

BACKGROUND: COVID 19 Pandemic and Lockdown situation has changed the way in which patients are treated in hospitals. Several tertiary care Trust Hospitals were designated as Dedicated COVID Hospitals by the Government of India in this period. We describe the treatment of Cancer patients carried out in such a hospital simultaneously alongside COVID patients in a COVID HOTSPOT in India. METHODS: All Cancer patients treated in the lockdown period in our Dedicated COVID hospital were studied. Patients receiving cancer surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy were included. FINDINGS: A total of 864 patients received treatment for cancer in our hospital during the period of 20th March 2020 to 31st May 2020. This included 626 old patients and 238 new patients. 110 patients underwent 122 surgeries, 658 patients received 1888 cycles of chemotherapy and 205 patients received 3498 fractions of radiotherapy during this period. Only 7/110 (6.36%) surgical patients, 129/658 (19.64%) chemotherapy patients and 14/205 (6.82%) radiotherapy patients had any complications, but they were not COVID-related. The treatment of 109/864 (12.61%) was delayed due to Pandemic and Lockdown situation and the treatment plan was changed for 84/864 (9.72%) patients. There were 21 deaths in these 864 patients (2.43%) but only 2 deaths were COVID-related. Only 12 patients were tested for COVID and only 3/864 patients (0.34%) were detected to be COVID positive. INTERPRETATION: We were able to successfully deliver cancer treatment to patients in our Hospital despite the fact that COVID-positive patients were being treated in another part of the hospital. The percentage of adverse effects, delay or change in treatment and COVID infection has been very low in our study. For a disease like cancer, it is important to continue or initiate the treatment taking due precautions in this Pandemic situation. FUNDING STATEMENT: None. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS: None. ETHICS APPROVAL STATEMENT: The Institutional Ethics Committee had approved this study.