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Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center recently joined with the American Cancer Society to create a webinar offering insight on managing cancer care during the pandemic. John Sweetenham, M.D., Associate Director for Clinical Affairs at Simmons Cancer Center, summarizes the key takeaways and then provides a link to the full webinar.
UT Southwestern is offering COVID-19 vaccines to eligible individuals, based on state guidelines. Eligible individuals will receive direct communication through their secure MyChart account to schedule vaccination appointments. Supply is limited and dependent on the size and frequency of shipments from the State, both of which can change rapidly. UTSW is prepared to deliver vaccines as quickly as we receive them. Thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation. For more details and updates on eligibility and availability, please visit our vaccination page.
Current evidence indicates approved COVID-19 vaccinations are safe for cancer patients, and experts are encouraging everyone, including those receiving cancer treatments, to receive the vaccine at the earliest opportunity. That said, individuals with known vaccine allergy risks should consult with their medical providers before receiving any COVID-19 vaccination.
It is important to continue following established safety protocols, including wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing, and washing your hands frequently – even after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. These precautions will be necessary until public health experts advise otherwise. At this point, it is unclear whether those who are vaccinated could still spread the virus to others.
From all of us at the Simmons Cancer Center and UT Southwestern, thank you for entrusting us with your care. If you have any concerns, please contact your oncology care team.
We have resumed in-person visits and our regard for your safety remains paramount. Safeguards at our main cancer center building in Dallas, at Moncrief Cancer Institute in Fort Worth, and at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Richardson/Plano continue to include:
Dr. Madhuri Vusirikala, Medical Director of UT Southwestern's Adult Bone Marrow Transplant Program, and one of her patients, Ericka Thompson, join Dr. John Warner to discuss how virtual health appointments have become vital resources in helping cancer patients stay current with their care and feel supported during the COVID-19 health crisis.
Many of our patients are finding virtual visits, which make it easy to connect with a specialist from the comfort of your home, to be a great substitute for in-person appointments. We will continue to offer these whenever possible. We strongly encourage you to contact us through MyChart or the UT Southwestern Appointment Line (214-645-8300) to see whether a virtual visit is a viable option for you. Our main COVID-19 website is a great source of information as well.
We are also asking patients and visitors to follow steps to prevent the transmission and spread of COVID-19, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
We know you likely have more questions. Answers to some of the most frequent questions we receive are below, but if you need more specific information about your care or an appointment, please contact us through MyChart.
We encourage you to keep your regularly scheduled appointments. The day before the appointment, a member of your cancer care team will contact you to confirm the details and to screen for COVID-19 infection risks or symptoms. Everyone entering the Simmons Cancer Center will undergo COVID-19 screening and temperature checks via a no-touch thermometer scan. Anyone who has a reading of 100.0°F/37.78°C or higher, or COVID-19 symptoms, will be advised on the best course of action.
We recommend new patients who are scheduled for a pre-clinic consult or test to keep their appointments. As with patients undergoing active treatments, you will be contacted by a member of the cancer care team in advance of your appointment to screen for COVID-19 symptoms. Expect to undergo a temperature check via a no-touch thermometer scan when you arrive at Simmons Cancer Center. Should you have a fever of 100.0°F/37.78°C or higher, or COVID-19 symptoms, our staff will advise you on next steps.
The safest option is to reschedule your follow-up appointment to a later date. We are carefully reviewing records of all our patients and might recommend this through a phone call or MyChart message. If so, we will work with you on rescheduling for a future date. If you decide you’d like to be seen, of course you can keep your appointment, but we might recommend switching to a virtual visit with your provider. If so, we will help you set that up as well.
Your care team will contact you directly to discuss how best to proceed.
UT Southwestern staff are contacting patients regarding scheduled follow-up appointments. Your cancer care team will take any risks into consideration and recommend an appropriate time frame for your next appointment. Your health is important to us, so please contact us if you develop any new symptoms between your appointments.
If you have had treatment for cancer, it’s possible that your immune system will be impaired and that you will be at a higher risk from COVID-19. Every patient is different, but if you have concerns, please consult your care team.
We recommend you follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for social distancing, travel, and hand hygiene. We are also asking patients and visitors to our facilities to follow those guidelines to reduce the risk of transmission. They include:
If you are currently undergoing cancer treatment, it is important that you contact us with any new symptoms. Please call our office, 214-645-4673, or send a MyChart message so we can evaluate the best way to care for you during this time. We ask that you don’t come to the clinic without speaking to one of our team members first. If you are a cancer survivor, we recommend contacting your primary care provider for any potential COVID-19 symptoms.
The COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly, and while our procedures might change in the coming weeks our priorities will not – those are to keep you safe, informed, and focused on feeling well. We appreciate your patience, flexibility, and cooperation during this stressful time. If you have additional questions, please continue to use MyChart as a communication channel with your care team. Or call the UT Southwestern Appointment line at 817-676-9117.
The National Cancer Institute and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network have both recognized Simmons Cancer Center as one of the elite centers in the country for patient care, research, and education.
Simmons Cancer Center is the only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center in North Texas and one of just five in the entire Southwest. In addition, Simmons Cancer Center is among only 30 U.S. cancer research centers to be designated by the NCI as a National Clinical Trials Network Lead Academic Participating Site.
NCCN is a nonprofit alliance of 30 distinguished comprehensive cancer centers throughout the United States, including Harvard, Yale, and the Mayo Clinic.
NCCN leaders praised Simmons Cancer Center's combination of medical and scientific expertise, as well as its leadership in clinical trials and advanced therapies, when it named UT Southwestern to its alliance in March 2020.
NCCN and NCI comprehensive designations are the gold standards for cancer programs. They reflect our ability to deliver the best care available today and our promise to discover treatments that will lead to the best cancer care of tomorrow.
UT Southwestern’s cancer care earned national recognition from U.S. News & World Report for 2020-21, placing us among the country’s leading cancer treatment facilities.
Our team of hundreds of leading cancer physicians and oncology-trained support staff are trusted partners in returning patients with cancer to good health. Through a combination of expertly delivered, compassionate care and our initiatives to develop new lines of defense against cancer, we offer more than most cancer centers. We deliver the future of cancer care, today.
At Simmons Cancer Center, we have hundreds of professionals participating in more than a dozen cancer research and clinical care programs to advance the treatment and prevention of cancer through basic discovery, translational research, innovative clinical trials, exceptional cancer care, community education, and the latest technologies.
At Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, we are experts in diagnosing and treating cancer because we offer:
With NCI Comprehensive designation, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center is among the most elite cancer centers in the U.S. According to a 2009 study from The Dartmouth Institute, one-year cancer deaths are 25% lower for patients with the four most common types of cancer who receive care at NCI-designated cancer centers.
We have a wide range of clinical trials open to patients with all stages of cancer. Search for opportunities to participate in a cancer study.
We offer same-day appointments for established patients experiencing cancer-related symptoms or side effects that need urgent attention.
