Inside with Chris Bateman: When Covid-19 and chemotherapy potentially collide

The deadly threat of Covid-19 multiplies when one's immune system is compromised, such as the three million HIV-infected individuals not on ARVs in South Africa. But a double whammy is in store for those cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy. Not only does chemo kill the white blood cells, whose job it is to keep our immune system working, but in addition to this, a threat lies in the increased potential of contracting the virus. Cancer patients on chemo have no option but to make weekly trips to the hospital, a place where the severely infected need to be. How does someone on chemo right now keep themselves safe? Chris Bateman, a well-known journalist and contributor to Biznews has first hand knowledge on this. Himself a cancer victim currently undergoing chemotherapy, Chris tells us how he anticipates a 12-month lockdown, and the extra measures he is taking to keep Covid-19 away from his door. – Vanessa Marks

Chris Bateman is a member of the Biznews team and has been for quite some time. Chris before you were working with us you've had a long and distinguished career in medical journalism. So I guess if anybody knows what this whole Covid-19 issue is or how serious it is, you surely got to be up there.

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