[The Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgery of Cancer Patients].

The standard therapy for cancer should be basically performed on time. Nevertheless, COVID-19 pandemic has extensively affected cancer therapy in Japan. Under COVID-19 pandemic, medical resources in each hospital, incidence of infection in the community, and type and stage of cancer diseases, should totally be considered in performance of operation for cancer. Actually, in more than 40% of hospitals, cancer surgery was restricted, according to questionnaire survey, held by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery. And also surgery for pancreatic, colorectal, esophageal and gastric cancer had preferred to other surgery. Generally, surgery for aggressive cancer, lacking in alternative therapy should be preferred. On the other hand, because the infection status in the community could rapidly change, policy for operation should be frequently reviewed.