Coronavirus and Cancer: What College Students Need To Know and the Resources that Can Help

Welcome to our world! The Coronavirus may be new, but the precautions to safeguard against it are not. The families who have a child, teenager or young adult with cancer, have been practicing preventive care for a long time. Since Cancer patients are among those at high risk of serious illness from an infection because their immune systems are often weakened by cancer and its treatments, they already know the importance of washing hands frequently, carrying an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, using cleaning wipes to clean dirty surfaces, avoiding crowds and staying away from people who are sick.

When our daughter was fighting Ewing’s Sarcoma Cancer, there were times she would need to be hospitalized because she had Neutropenia (white blood cells help the body fight infection and hers would be low). The condition can be caused by cancer chemotherapy. She could not even have flowers in the same room with her. Therefore, many young adults fighting cancer want others to take the Coronavirus seriously.

 

R.I.P Francisco Garcia from Malaga, Spain

Francisco was a 21 year old Football coach in Spain, He was diagnosed with coronavirus and at the same time found he had cancer.

Thoughts are with his family and Friends. pic.twitter.com/bbBJXnQpBy

— UTFR 🇾🇪 (@ManUtd_HQ) March 16, 2020

When the Coronavirus hit the greater Seattle area where hugabox is located, our community stepped up their commitment to prevent the spread of the disease by closing schools and universities (The University of Washington was the first university in the country to close), avoiding close contact and disinfecting hands and frequently touched objects/surfaces. For individuals with compromised immune systems, the focus on better hygiene was a welcomed response and one they had been advocating for. In the days to come, additional colleges and universities closed their doors forcing thousands (National Public Radio estimates that more than 600,000 students have been impacted) of students to scramble for storage, housing and a way home.

In a surprising move, Harvard University announced the campus was closing and students had 5 days to evacuate dorms, Twitter lit up with student’s comments.

 

A lot of you have been asking me about the young lady I know who is a student at @Harvard. I’ve been so worried about her. She sent me this text today as she is packing up to leave campus. #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/7fOWPY2ysB

— Shaun Robinson (@shaunrobinson) March 13, 2020

As a result, U-Haul started offering students 30 days of free self-storage according to the company’s news release. “We don’t know how every student is affected. But we know they are affected,” said Taylor. “More and more universities are giving instructions to leave campus and go home. Students and their parents are in need of moving and storage solutions. We have the expertise and network to help, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.” It also includes use of the company’s portable moving and storage containers.

 

Last Thursday, in the city of Granville, Ohio where Denison University is located, community members started offering students housing, employment and travel funds to get home. Others are following suit, MIT alums announced on March 14, they would be offering students who have been affected by COVID-19, housing, free storage and reimbursement for some travel expenses. Showing additional support, Chicago area hotels reduced rates for displaced students on March 13th.

 

With the coronavirus causing major disruptions on college campuses, at least three Chicago-area hotels are offering discounted overnight rates to displaced students. https://t.co/AO0A4VUfZp

— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) March 16, 2020

An American college student studying abroad documented his return to the U.S. from Madrid amid the coronavirus pandemic after his university suspended his overseas program. https://t.co/g65CNEtdsG

— ABC News (@ABC) March 16, 2020

College students that need to fly home please note: Two days ago, United Airlines announced they would cut capacity by 50% amid the Coronavirus and American Airlines and other airlines plan to waive certain fees. Furthermore, Frontier is offering free flights when you purchase before March 23, 2020. You must purchase a one-way or round-trip Discount Den Fare.

Finally, many online colleges are offering courses worthy of mention. Wharton School launches a new online course on the impact and implications of Coronavirus/COVID-19. The course begins March 25, 2020.  University of the People, a tuition-free, accredited online American university is offering its accredited courses to any university to use as students move to online-only education as the coronavirus spreads. “All 115 of the university's courses will be open to all colleges, according to a news release. University of the People's faculty members will teach the courses, which students can take for credit at their own universities. The courses will cover topics in general education, business administration, computer science, health science and education.”

Register now for our upcoming webcast on how the spread of the coronavirus has affected colleges in the US and abroad, and how it's impacting the way campuses operate, how faculty members teach and the travel of staff and students: https://t.co/M4mM2TQ8Nm #IHEcovid19 pic.twitter.com/3uqPBpumeY

— Inside Higher Ed (@insidehighered) March 16, 2020

Contagion is real, but it doesn't just work for viruses. It works for kind actions/words and our genuine care of others. Our hope is that the new habits we have implemented during this time of uncertainty will be further practiced well after the Coronavirus has disappeared. Be safe out there and be considerate of others with weakened immune systems.