COVID-19 pandemic has affected healthcare services across the globe and cancer care delivery is not an exception. Global lockdown has largely changed the cancer care practice from hospital visits to teleconsultations to check the spread of novel coronavirus 2019 as cancer patients are more susceptible to any infection than other individuals because of their systemic immunosuppressive state caused by the malignancy and anticancer treatments.  

There have been many important issues to be addressed as far as cancer care delivery in amid COVID-19 pandemic is concerned. We have recorded a very high number of submission related to cancer management and COVID-19 but it is very difficult to accommodate all the manuscript on similar topic respecting the diversity of our journal. Cancer care is in limbo as patients are unable to reach to hospital in view of imposed travel restrictions. As this disease is very new, there is a paucity of data on experience of cancer management in this crisis from different countries and most of the data are emerging from China.

Thus, Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Care (APJCC) has come up with a special issue titled “Oncology practices amidst COVID-19 pandemic” to get better insight of the problem in different countries. This special issue will feature article type as Research articles, Case reports, Case series, Viewpoints, Commentary, short communication, perspective and Letter to editor with below mentioned focus area –

• Covid-19 in cancer patients
• Cancer treatment modification guidelines
• Cancer prevention and control strategies during COVID-19 pandemic
• Psychological issues in cancer patients
• Socio-cultural-economic impact of coronavirus on cancer patients, caregivers and survivors
• Alternative modified procedures
• Other issues in cancer care during COVID-19 pandemic

The important feature for submitted manuscripts will include

• Fast review
• Fast publication
• Peer reviewed

Accepted Manuscript Types

• Short Communications: The length should not exceed 3,000 words and no more than 2 tables and figures, and no more than 20 references.
• Research Articles: Up to 5000 words for the main text of the manuscript excluding the reference list, 6 tables and figures, and no more than 40 references.
• Editorials: Opinions of recognized leaders in cancer specialties during COVID-19 pandemic.The length should not exceed 2,400 words and no more than 20 references. Authors intending to submit an editorial must send an email to the Editor-in-Chief at journal@waocb.org with the subject line of “Request for an editorial for APJCC”.
• Commentaries/Perspective/Viewpoint: Presents a point of view of general interest not related to an article in the same issue of the APJCC. The length should not exceed 1,000 words and no more than 10 references.
• Correspondence: Letters to the Editor related to papers previously published in the APJCC related to COVID-19. Letters must be submitted within six months of the online publication date of the article. The authors of the original publication will be given the opportunity to respond in the same issue of the journal. Letter to editor not related to previously published article are also welcomed, but related to COVID-19.

Letters and responses must not exceed 750 words in length. Financial associations or other potential conflicts of interest must be declared.

• Case series/case report: should be related to COVID-19 (cancer patients symptomatic with COVID-19 or related to patient management treatment or management of cancer patients with COVID-19) or alternative modified procedures in view of novel coronavirus 2019 exposure to patients. APJCC encourages case series/report from Asian countries/populations (minorities, ethnicities, and populations with a particular attribute), in which not much data on cancer is available.

Manuscripts are welcomed for this special issue. The last date of submission is July 10th, 2020.

To submit: visit the journal website at http://apjcc.waocp.com.  You need to register and then submit your manuscript.

Editorial Team,   Asian pacific Journal of CancerCare