Latest news
Carousel content with 6 slides.
![](/images/DSC00271.jpg#joomlaImage://local-images/DSC00271.jpg?width=&height=)
New patient wellbeing programs launched alongside Patient Parliament
![](/images/Karen_Thrussell.png#joomlaImage://local-images/Karen_Thrussell.png?width=776&height=472)
Shedding light on the complexity of sarcoma
![](/images/Sustainability3.png#joomlaImage://local-images/Sustainability3.png?width=909&height=715)
Peter Mac launches Environmental Sustainability Strategy
![](/images/Discovery_no_logo_resize_2.png#joomlaImage://local-images/Discovery_no_logo_resize_2.png?width=800&height=449)
Two clinical researchers awarded 2024 Discovery Partner Fellowships
![](/images/AI_surgery.png#joomlaImage://local-images/AI_surgery.png?width=1110&height=554)
Peter Mac gets $3 million boost for research preventing surgery complications
![](/images/Lev_Katz.jpg#joomlaImage://local-images/Lev_Katz.jpg?width=&height=)
US award for Peter Mac researcher
A major study of how COVID-19 affected Australian cancer patients has shown its impact eased through the pandemic as the arrival of vaccines, a less severe variant and early intervention treatments saved lives.
Led by Infectious Diseases researchers at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the study assessed 620 cancer patients across 15 Australian hospitals who caught COVID-19 from March 2020 to April 2022.
Cancer patients are vulnerable to COVID-19 due to a weakened immune system being a common result of cancer or cancer treatment, reducing their ability to fight off and recover from any infection.
All-cause mortality in these patients in the 100 days after COVID-19 infection was 10.6% – well below the mortality seen internationally of up to 38% for patients with blood cancers, one of the highest risk groups.
“We found overall that one in ten Australian cancer patients who caught COVID-19 died within 100 days of the infection, either as a result of COVID-19 or an unrelated cause,” says Dr Victoria Hall, Infectious Diseases physician and PhD candidate at Peter Mac and University of Melbourne.
“While this is a significant loss of human life, it is well short of what was seen elsewhere for this vulnerable patient group.
“Contributing factors include that most Australian cancer patients caught COVID-19 in early 2022 during the Omicron wave and after COVID-19 vaccines had become widely available, and there were also measures in place to rapidly detect infections and provide protective antiviral treatments to this group.”
Dr Hall said like what was seen in the general population, the Omicron variant appeared to be less severe in patients with cancer than previous strains of COVID-19.
The average age of Australian cancer patients who caught COVID-19 was 63.5 years, with slightly more men (50.6%) and overall, 73.4% were vaccinated against COVID-19.
The rate of deaths declined over the course of the pandemic, with all-cause mortality in 2020 at 25.6% but in 2022 it was 8.1% in cancer patients.
“Just as we saw deaths in this vulnerable group decline over time there were also consistent drops in the rate of patients needing a hospital stay of more than 24 hours, those who required oxygen or an ICU stay, and those who required mechanical ventilation,” Dr Hall said.
Find the paper - titled “COVID-19 infection among patients with cancer in Australia from 2020-2022: a national multicentre cohort study” - online as just published in the journal Lancet Regional Health Western Pacific.
Contacts
For more info or to arrange an interview contact the Peter Mac Communications team on 0417 123 048.
About Peter Mac
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a world-leading cancer research, education and treatment centre and Australia’s only public health service solely dedicated to caring for people affected by cancer.
Related pages
![](/images/staff/DJ3_8954_MRV2_FS_BrAf-590x620.jpg)
First steps to navigating Peter Mac
Getting started Peter Mac locations Visitor information Accessing telehealth Important contacts Patient and carer support![Image alt text](/images/Peter Mac building and cafes/DJ3_7004_V2_BrAf_FS.jpg)
We offer care that goes beyond treatment
Peter Mac has a wellbeing approach to care. We base this on a fundamental belief that the best cancer care treats the person and the disease. The Wellbeing Centre is a sanctuary for patients, their families and carers. It is a gathering place that is open, accepting and welcoming for all.
Cancer can be hard to deal with and we know that getting treatment is only part of it. You might have other challenges and need help with them. We offer many kinds of help for you, your loved ones, and your carers. Each resource can help you deal with how cancer affects your body, emotions and money.
The Victorian Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service is a team of health and other professionals who specialise in the care of young people aged 15 to 25. We work with you and your healthcare team to support you at all stages of the cancer journey, anywhere in Victoria.
You are a carer if you’re taking care of someone with cancer. You might be a family member, friend or neighbour. Our wonderful volunteer service is here to help to make things a little easier for you and the person you’re caring for. They offer a range of support, resources, and items to help you.
The Psychosocial Oncology Program is a multidisciplinary team. This includes clinical psychologists, social workers, PCLNs, and psychiatrists/psychiatric registrars. They assess patients at risk of mental health problems. They will also assess and treat those with current mental health problems.
![Image alt text](/images/Peter Mac building and cafes/DJ3_7004_V2_BrAf_FS.jpg)