COVID-19 Facts and Resources

Información para pacientes sobre el COVID-19

有关新型冠状病毒的通知

At Dana-Farber, your health and safety, along with the health and safety of our staff, are our top priorities. Despite the challenges to the entire healthcare community posed by COVID-19, Dana-Farber remains undeterred from our mission to provide expert, compassionate care. We are still caring for current patients, accepting new patients, and providing second opinion consultations. Where medically appropriate, we may ask you to conduct your appointment online, by phone, or via videoconference, or to reschedule an existing appointment. If you have questions about your appointment, please contact your care team.

If you have COVID-like symptoms or have tested positive for COVID in the last 20 days, please call your Dana-Farber doctor's office before your appointment. Please read this PDF for more information.

Thank you for your support during this challenging time, and for entrusting your care to us.

Recovered from COVID-19? Help researchers make discoveries against COVID-19

A Dana-Farber research team, led by Wayne A. Marasco, MD, PhD, is conducting a COVID-19 Protective Immunity Study to better understand the key factors that influence human immune responses to the SARS-CoV2, as well as develop novel, effective and durable broad-spectrum SARS-CoV vaccines.

Health care workers, cancer patients, or otherwise healthy individuals who recovered from COVID-19 infection are asked to consider participating in this study. 150 volunteers will be enrolled during and shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic period.

Joining the COVID-19 Protective Immunity Study is simple. Learn more and provide your contact information. A research nurse will then contact you. For detailed information, please read the COVID-19 Protective Immunity Study recruitment literature.

Clinicians, please make cancer patients who have recovered from COVID-19 infections aware of this study.

Dana-Farber COVID-19 News Coverage

As Omicron surges, so, too do fear and frustration for immunocompromised people (Boston Globe – January 2, 2022)
Vaccinated cancer patients with breakthrough Covid at high death risk: Study (MSNBC – December 28, 2021)
Coronavirus vaccine is much less effective for multiple myeloma cancer patients: Dana-Farber study (Boston Herald – December 12, 2021)
How to weigh coronavirus risks this holiday season (Washington Post - November 29, 2021)
Immunocompromised must be cautious, COVID vaccines not protective (USA Today – June 27, 2021)
‘It’s not over yet’: Uncertain protection from Covid vaccines leaves cancer patients in limbo (STAT – May 14, 2021)
From the COVID-19 vaccine to a cancer cure (ABC News – March 23, 2021)
Long-term Covid can affect multiple organ systems, highlighting treatment challenges (NBC News - March 22, 2021)
A side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine can mimic a sign of breast cancer. This is normal, doctors say. (USA Today – February 26, 2021)
Top Cancer Organizations Urge President Biden To Prioritize Covid-19 Vaccines for People With Cancer (Forbes – February 17, 2021)
Dana-Farber Studies Pandemic Screenings, COVID-19 in the Funeral Industry, and Boston Fights HIV (WBZ Radio – February 6, 2021)
Combatting COVID-19’s cancer screening dip (NBC News – January 27, 2021)
Dana-Farber CEO Launches Campaign Encouraging Cancer Patients, Survivors to Get COVID Vaccine (CBS Boston – January 25, 2021)
COVID-19 vaccine will soon be available to more MA residents. What can you expect after getting the shot? (Fox 25 News - January 21, 2021)
Study shows sharp decline in cancer diagnosis during first COVID-19 surge (WCVB Boston - January 14, 2021)
Why Some Scientists See 'Unlimited' Possibility In Technology Behind COVID-19 Vaccines (WBUR - January 11, 2021)
What does it feel like to get a COVID-19 vaccine? (Fox 25 News - December 23, 2020)
First COVID-19 Vaccines Administered at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (WBZ 1030 News Radio - December 16, 2020)
Covid-19 surge could lead to another drop in patient visits, doctors fear — and more missed pediatric cancers (STAT - December 10, 2020)
Actor Jeff Bridges reveals lymphoma diagnosis (NBC Nightly News – October 20, 2020)
Doctors stress importance of breast cancer screenings during pandemic (WCVB Boston – October 14, 2020)
Black Patients with Cancer, COVID-19 More Likely to Experience Complications, Hospitalization (Cancer Network – October 13, 2020)
How the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Changed Cancer Care, In 4 Charts (Time Magazine - August 28, 2020)
Doctors warn cancers are going undiagnosed amid COVID-19 pandemic (Good Morning America - August 6, 2020)
The political battle over masks is making us lose the war on COVID-19 (Boston Globe - July 21, 2020)
Boosting Immunity: Facts and Fiction (NBC Boston – July 14, 2020)
10,000 more cancer deaths predicted because of COVID-19 pandemic (CBS News – June 19, 2020)
‘We have a job to do’: Cancer patients and their doctors carry on with clinical trials during Covid-19 (STAT News – June 16, 2020)
Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center palliative care team on their role during COVID-19 pandemic (The Atlantic – June 16, 2020)
Cancer Patient Prepares For Surgery As Coronavirus Restrictions Begin To Lift (WBUR – June 13, 2020)
Cancer patients cope with protocol changes due to COVID-19 (WCVB Boston - June 11, 2020)
Cancer Care and Research Amid Coronavirus Pandemic (NECN – June 5, 2020)
'I'm smiling under here': Masks, plexiglass and questions the norm as hospitals lure patients back in COVID-19 era (USA Today – June 3, 2020)
Fear of Covid Leads Other Patients to Decline Critical Treatment (New York Times - May 25, 2020)
Dana-Farber testing drug to improve survival in coronavirus patients (Boston Herald - May 21, 2020)
Dana-Farber to Test Blood Cancer Drug in Coronavirus Patients (CBS Boston – May 20, 2020)
Brigham, Dana-Farber to study whether plasma from recovered coronavirus patients can be used to treat the sick (Boston Globe – May 15, 2020)
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Look to Plasma to Cure Sickest Coronavirus Patients (CBS Boston – May 13, 2020)
Cancer patients continue fights of their own while on guard against coronavirus (Boston.com – May 7, 2020)
Coronavirus Is Changing Cancer Treatment at Dana-Farber (CBS Boston – May 6, 2020)
'Like a new diagnosis': Cancer families struggle to continue treatment amid coronavirus pandemic (USA Today – May 1, 2020)
Dr. Jennifer Ligibel and her patient discuss breast cancer treatment during COVID-19 (WGBH radio – April 28, 2020)
Dana-Farber researchers, including Dr. Loren Wolensky, are working to combat COVID-19 (WCVB Boston – April 24, 2020)
A Dana-Farber cancer patient talks about his feelings of isolation during pandemic quarantine (Fox 25 News – April 24, 2020)
Caravan rolls by Dana-Farber to celebrate Haverhill man’s 27th birthday (Fox 25 News – April 24, 2020)
Dana-Farber started running low on PPE. Then it had an idea. (Boston Business Journal – April 22, 2020)
Inside the hospital sanitizing 2,000 disposable N95 masks for reuse by hospital workers each day (Business Insider – April 20, 2020)
Dana-Farber Changes Breast Cancer Treatment Plans During Coronavirus Pandemic (CBS Boston – April 17, 2020)
Cancer patients in Massachusetts feeling strain of coronavirus pandemic (WCVB Boston – April 14, 2020)
The Coronavirus and Cancer: What You Need to Know Now (AARP – April 13, 2020)
Coronavirus Fight: PMC Makes $4 Million Commitment to Dana-Farber Emergency Fund (CBS Boston – April 9, 2020)

Where can I get more information about COVID-19?

We recommend resources and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You can find additional information on the U.S. Department of State and the CDC site, including more COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions and travel information and safety tips from the CDC.