The psychological impact of the covid-19 pandemic on radiotherapy cancer patients

•The Covid-19 pandemic outbreak has a strong impact on all areas of human existence also affecting the quality of life of cancer patients.•The study aim to identify the psychological impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy investigating the possible increased of emotional distress during the pandemic outbreak.•The research showed the presence of a clinically significant anxiety in almost all of the sample analyzed.•The research results show a condition of emotional distress present during the pandemic which makes it necessary to treat patients in a multidisciplinary perspective that includes psychological support in the care plan.