COVID-19: Local surgeon makes house calls for at-risk cancer patients

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - It's hard enough to fight cancer let alone during a pandemic.

But Colleen Wade is thankful to get a visit from her doctor right in the safety of her own living room. "It’s a privilege to have the doctor come to your house. I would say that and I appreciate it."

Dr. Monica Rocco, a surgeon with the Mission Hope Cancer Center decided to go on these house calls for at-risk patients like Wade, since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Central Coast. "So when I see patients on my schedule that are over the age of 60 or higher, I decided I would offer those patients a home visit for their initial consultation instead of them coming to the office for the first visit."

As the shelter-at-home mandate continues, Dr. Rocco wants to ensure that patients feel cared for and safe, now more than ever. "Because many of these patients are frightened about coming to the cancer center. The frightened about leaving their house."

"I think it’s helpful with the fact that you don’t have to worry going and running into somebody that might have the virus," said Wade.

Dr. Rocco says extra precautions are being taken for those still coming to Mission Hope Cancer Center.

"Cancer doesn’t discriminate and it can affect anybody and any population," said Dr. Rocco.

So long as the coronavirus pandemic continues, Dr. Rocco plans to continue making house calls to those most at-risk patients.