The novel coronavirus, namely SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)  has caused drastic global health issues. Currently, adequate treatment options are still lacking for the management of COVID-19 viral infections. Patients afflicted with COVID-19 exhibit a wide range of symptoms with severity and clinical outcomes often dependent upon underlying comorbidities. Because cancer remains one of the most prevalent diseases and leading causes of death worldwide, it is important to understand the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Data were acquired from PubMed using key search terms. Additional databases were utilized, such as the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), the American Cancer Society (ACS), and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). From analysis of these databases, it is clear that cancer patients are significantly more prone to SARS-CoV-2 infection and exhibit poorer health outcomes from infection. Individual parameters, such as older age (>60 years old), male gender, and active cancer disease or previous cancer are risk factors for COVID-19 infection, lead to possibly more severe complications during infection and exacerbate mortality rates. The speculated mechanisms for higher mortality associated  with COVID-19 complications is by reduced immune system function,  increased inflammatory processes , and/or the use of anti-cancer therapies during active COVID-19 infection. Cancer types reviewed include prostate, breast, ovarian, hematologic, lung, colorectal, esophagus, bladder, pancreatic, cervical, as well as head and neck cancer. Our review indicates targeted research is needed to better define the risks and mechanisms associated with COVID-19 infection for the goal of enhancing public health prevention strategies and/or therapeutic interventions that better protect cancer patients from more severe health outcomes.