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Prehabilitation telemedicine in neoadjuvant surgical oncology patients during the Novel COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic 28 Apr, 2020

In the setting of the novel COVID-19 pandemic, prehabilitation may support cancer patients who are receiving neoadjuvant therapy prior to anticipated surgery. Recommended “social distancing” among these immunocompromised patients may decrease their physical activity and increase the risk of cardiopulmonary deconditioning and sarcopenia, in addition to the psychosocial stress of a cancer diagnosis, predicted future surgery, and community withdrawal. The resultant cascade of physiologic and psychosocial deterioration can result in increased surgical risk. A multimodal, home-based, virtual prehabilitation program that could be delivered through telemedicine has the potential to counteract these effects.