Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for people with cancer

Updated Tuesday 11 May 2021

Restrictions are beginning to ease around the UK. However, it is important that you continue to follow the latest government advice for where you live in the UK.

Visit government websites for guidance on what you can and cannot do in:

• England
• Scotland
• Wales
• Northern Ireland.

As the vaccination programme continues to roll out, we understand that people with cancer and their friends and family will have a lot of questions. We have more information about different coronavirus vaccines.

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Coronavirus is a viral infection that affects the lungs. Anyone who has a weakened immune system is more at risk of being seriously ill if they get coronavirus (COVID-19).  Some people with cancer may be at a higher risk of getting coronavirus (COVID-19). It is important to follow the advice from the NHS and your healthcare team. 

If you’re feeling anxious about coronavirus, we’re here to give you emotional help.

This page includes advice and information from the NHS and GOV.UK. Advice may vary in different countries of the UK. 

The information on this page is about coronavirus and cancer. If you’re looking for other information about a particular type of cancer, test, treatment or drug, search for it in our A-Z.

If something is worrying you and you need to talk, we're here to listen. From questions about coronavirus, to cancer treatment, to financial advice, we're here for you.

To speak to our experts, you can:

• call the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00
• or chat to a specialist online.

Find out more about the Macmillan teams that are here to support you.

Some people with cancer and those who have received or are receiving certain treatments are more at risk of becoming seriously ill if they get COVID-19: These are:

• people having chemotherapy
• people having immunotherapy or antibody treatments for cancer
• people having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
• people having intensive (radical) radiotherapy for lung cancer
• people who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last six months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
• people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment.

Being in one of these categories is known as being clinically extremely vulnerable. If this affects you, the NHS will have contacted you. You may have been advised to follow shielding measures to reduce your risk of getting COVID-19. Shielding was paused in the summer when the rate of infection had lowered, but with levels currently rising, it is important to check the latest advice regularly. We have updated guidance about shielding.

If you live in an area where local restrictions apply then your healthcare team or your local authority can advise you about whether you need to resume shielding.

If you’re not sure whether you are in one of these groups, contact your healthcare team.

You need to follow the government guidelines and general advice for everyone. This can vary in the different countries of the UK. It can also vary in different parts of the country depending on the number of cases of COVID-19 in that area.

Everyone in the UK must continue to practice social distancing to avoid close contact with other people. People should practice good hand hygiene and wear a face mask when necessary. This can help stop the spread of coronavirus. Please visit government websites for guidance on social distancing and what you can and cannot do in the country where you live.

• England
• Scotland
• Wales
• Northern Ireland

Look at your local authority website for what is happening in your area.

You should self-isolate (stay at home all the time) for 10 days if you live alone and have symptoms even if the symptoms are mild. You will usually need to self-isolate for 14 days if:

• someone you live with or someone in your support bubble has symptoms or has tested positive
• you have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace

We have more information about self-isolation.

Your hospital team will talk with you about what will happen with your treatment and hospital appointments.

Hospital staff and cancer teams have worked hard to make sure people can continue their treatment in the safest way possible. Some people may have had a delay in their treatment while safety measures are put in place. Other people may be given their treatment in a different way.

You may have some of your hospital appointments by phone or by video consultation. Your hospital team will tell you more.

We have more information about coronavirus and cancer treatment.

You may have some of your appointments by phone or by video consultation. Whether it's a phone call with your GP or a video consultation with a specialist, we have some tips to help you prepare for these kinds of appointments.

• Top tips for virtual consultations with your GP
• Top tips for virtual consultations with other healthcare professionals

We know that self-isolating isn’t easy. There is support available.

We have put together some advice to help you cope with staying at home. This includes things like how to prepare for staying at home, staying in touch with family and friends, and the support available for getting essential things like food and prescriptions. Read our advice to help you cope with self-isolating.

It’s important to look after your physical and mental well-being. We know this isn’t easy to do when you have to stay at home. Here is some advice to help you stay active and eat well while at home.

We have listed some organisations and websites that have accessible coronavirus information in other formats and languages. This includes links to easy read booklets and British Sign Language (BSL) content. These resources are not specifically for people living with cancer but you may find them helpful.

You can also find our cancer-specific information in a range of different formats.

We have listed some websites that provide information on how coronavirus has impacted certain communities.

• Race Equality Foundation has information about risk factors of coronavirus and the impact on black and minority ethnic communities. You can also download the COVID-19 and Black and Minority Ethnic Communities easy read leaflet (PDF).
• Stonewall has information about how coronavirus is affecting LGBT communities and a list of organisations that can support you. 
• Friends, Families and Travellers has advice and support for gypsy, traveller and boater communities. There is information for local authorities and organisations that support the travelling community as well as some information for travellers themselves.