Delay in breast cancer treatments during the first COVID-19 lockdown. A multicentric analysis of 432 patients
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Extraordinary restrictions aimed to limit Sars-CoV-2 spreading; they imposed a total reorganization of the health-system. Oncological treatments experienced a significant slowdown. The aim of our multicentric retrospective study was to evaluate screening suspension and surgical treatment delay during COVID-19 and the impact on breast cancer presentation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent breast surgery from March 11, 2020 to May 30, 2020 were evaluated and considered as the Lockdown group. These patients were compared with similar patients of the previous year, the Pre-Lockdown group. RESULTS: A total of 432 patients were evaluated; n=223 and n=209 in the Lockdown and Pre-lockdown-groups, respectively. At univariate analysis, waiting times, lymph-nodes involvement and cancer grading, showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). Multivariate analysis identified waiting-time on list (OR=1.07) as a statistically significant predictive factor of lymph node involvement. CONCLUSION: Although we did not observe a clinically evident difference in breast cancer presentation, we reported an increase in lymph node involvement.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption to the cancer care system, including a shift to virtual appointments, alternative treatment offerings, postponement of surveillance scans and surgeries, and diminished supportive care and survivorship services.
“In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption to the cancer care system, including a shift to virtual appointments, alternative treatment offerings, postponement of surveillance scans and surgeries, and diminished supportive care and survivorship services [6,7].”
From The Psychosocial Impact of COVID-19 on Older Adults with Cancer: A Rapid Review (2022) · cites this paper as [7]
The Discussion describes disrupted oncology services and the temporary suspension of routine preventive activities; it also reports longer waits for breast cancer surgery during lockdown. The paper does not establish a shift to virtual appointments, alternative treatment offerings, postponed surveillance scans, or diminished supportive care and survivorship services. (LLM, conf=0.87)
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References 36 · Cited by 91
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Senie RT, Lesser M, Kinne DW and Rosen PP: Method of tumor detection influences disease-free survival of women with breast carcinoma. Cancer 73(6): 1666-1672, 1994. PMID: 8156494. DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(19940315)73:6<1666::aid-cncr28207306 19>3.0.co;2-e 18 · DOI
- Authors
- VANNI, G., TAZZIOLI, G., PELLICCIARO, M., MATERAZZO, M., PAOLO, O., CATTADORI, F., COMBI, F., PAPI, S., PISTOLESE, C. A., COTESTA, M., SANTORI, F., CASPI, J., CHIARAVALLOTI, A., MUSCOLI, S., LOMBARDO, V., GRASSO, A., CAGGIATI, L., RASELLI, R., PALLI, D., ALTOMARE, V., D’ANGELILLO, R. M., PALOMBI, L., & BUONOMO, O. C.
- Affiliations
- Policlinico Tor Vergata (IT)
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (IT)
- Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital (IT)
- University of Rome Tor Vergata (IT)
- Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo (IT)
- Università Campus Bio-Medico (IT)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Anticancer Research
- Published
- 2020-12
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 7119-7125
- ISSN
- 0250-7005 (ISSN-L)
- 1791-7530
- OpenAlex
- W3112690872
- Cited by
- 91
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 18
- FWCI
- 6.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Anticancer Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Basilicata) (submittedVersion, public-domain)
- IRIS UNIMORE (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Cineca Institutional Research Information System (Tor Vergata University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › COVID-19 and healthcare impacts
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Breast Cancer Treatment Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction
- Keywords
- breast cancer, COVID-19 lockdown, treatment delay, breast surgery, waiting time, lymph node involvement, cancer grading, health care reform, SARS-CoV-2
- MeSH terms
- COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Axilla, Breast Neoplasms, Female, Humans, Lymph Node Excision, Lymph Nodes, Lymphatic Metastasis, Mastectomy, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy, Pandemics
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