Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast and cervical cancer stage at diagnosis in Brazil

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the need for health services adjustments, which may have compromised management of other diseases. For cancer patients, delays may significantly impair outcomes in some situations. We aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in breast and cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment compared to the same period prior to the pandemic. METHODS: Data were collected from patients attending their first visit to a Brazilian cancer centre from 1 September 2020 to 31 January 2021 and from 1 September 2019 to 31 January 2020. The pandemic started in February 2020 in Brazil and is still ongoing. We considered this period (September/20-January/21) to be representative of the pandemic impact on cancer management. The primary endpoint was breast and cervical cancer stages at diagnosis. RESULTS: < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Breast and cervical cancer patients had more advanced-stage diseases in their first visit to a cancer centre during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to a similar period prior to the pandemic. Efforts should be made not to compromise essential cancer services since this results in long-term negative impacts for oncologic patients.