Pandemic Guidance for People With Cancer
- The risk of going out on a hike or a swim for people with cancer will depend on what kind of treatment they went through or are currently going through
- Generally things like hiking and swimming are safe as long as social distance can be maintained
- People who are immunocompromised or may be immunocompromised should consult their doctors before going out for physical activities
RELATED: Coronavirus Guide for Cancer Patients
Read MoreVisiting Parks
For people of average risk, visiting parks was given the OK by the CDC, so long as those parks are near your home and they are not so crowded that maintaining 6 feet of social distance becomes impossible. For people living with cancer, the risk of going out for a hike or a stroll through the park will depend on what kind of treatment you got or are currently getting, Dr. Greene tells SurvivorNet. People who had treatments like bone marrow transplants are extremely immunocompromised, while things like hormonal treatments will do very little to affect the immune systemPeople with compromised immune systems need to be cautious because, “there’s a window of time — whether it’s two weeks or three months, where they have to avoid situations where they could be compromised with someone who is not social distancing or could spread an infection,” Dr. Greene says. “So, they tend to not go into public places. Their doctors typically tell them that. The vast majority of other patients are not really immunosuppressed and need not be overly concerned.”
Swimming Pools
There’s no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 can be spread through water, the CDC says. Pools are safe if they get the proper chemical treatments and if it’s possible to maintain social distancing while swimming.
Dr. Greene points out that the amount of virus that could get into the water is not normally enough to infect you, and even if a larger virus load did get in, normal chlorination would take care of that.
“The big thing about swimming is, you have to be careful about trying to maintain your 6-foot distancing,” Dr Green says. “That’s the little bit of risk that you would have.”
He also notes that swimming next to someone in a pool who has the virus for a split second is not necessarily a cause for concern.
“If someone is swimming in the pool and they swam by me or walked by me, that’s not really a significant exposure,” Dr. Greene says. “Talking to somebody for 10 minutes closer than 6 feet, that’s significant exposure.”
Going to the Beach
The same guidelines for visiting parks and pools apply to attending the beach. If there are large crowds near your local beach, it’s probably best to avoid it. But if you’re craving a sunset beach stroll, and see that you can maintain social distance while taking one, go for it. Physical activity is healthy — especially since so many of us have had more of a sedentary lifestyle since the outbreak began.
Swimming in the ocean would carry similar risks to swimming in the pool — minimal as long as you don’t have extended, close contact with anyone. Dr. Greene points out that the salt water in the ocean is unlikely to carry the infection, as long as social distance is still taken into consideration.
If you are immunocompromised or unsure if you’re still immunocompromised, however, it’s best to check with your doctor before any physical activities that may put you at risk.
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