Breast Cancer and COVID-19: Challenges in Surgical Management
The harsh healthcare reality imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in wide clinical practice alterations, postponements, and shortages, affecting both patients and caregivers. Breast-cancer management, from diagnosis to treatment and follow up, was a field that did not escape such changes, facin...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-10-01
|
| Series: | Cancers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/21/5360 |
| _version_ | 1797468879327330304 |
|---|---|
| author | Zoe Petropoulou Nikolaos Arkadopoulos Nikolaos V. Michalopoulos |
| author_facet | Zoe Petropoulou Nikolaos Arkadopoulos Nikolaos V. Michalopoulos |
| author_sort | Zoe Petropoulou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The harsh healthcare reality imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in wide clinical practice alterations, postponements, and shortages, affecting both patients and caregivers. Breast-cancer management, from diagnosis to treatment and follow up, was a field that did not escape such changes, facing a challenging set of obstacles in order to maintain adequate cancer care services while diminishing viral spread among patients and personnel. In this review article, we discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on several aspects of breast-cancer management, and the subsequent modifications adopted by clinicians, scientific groups, and governments as a response to the novel conditions. Screening and diagnosis, as well as breast-cancer treatment paths—especially surgical interventions—were the most affected domains, while patients’ psychological burden also emerged as a notable consequence. The aftermath of diagnostic and surgical delays is yet to be assessed, while the treatment alterations and the introduction of new therapeutic schemes might signify the opening of a novel era in breast-cancer management. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:12:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c39c50ce694c4d899e32e0e716479f26 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:12:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-c39c50ce694c4d899e32e0e716479f262023-11-24T04:03:13ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942022-10-011421536010.3390/cancers14215360Breast Cancer and COVID-19: Challenges in Surgical ManagementZoe Petropoulou0Nikolaos Arkadopoulos1Nikolaos V. Michalopoulos24th Department of Surgery, Medical School, “Attikon” University Hospital, University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece4th Department of Surgery, Medical School, “Attikon” University Hospital, University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece4th Department of Surgery, Medical School, “Attikon” University Hospital, University of Athens, 12462 Athens, GreeceThe harsh healthcare reality imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in wide clinical practice alterations, postponements, and shortages, affecting both patients and caregivers. Breast-cancer management, from diagnosis to treatment and follow up, was a field that did not escape such changes, facing a challenging set of obstacles in order to maintain adequate cancer care services while diminishing viral spread among patients and personnel. In this review article, we discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on several aspects of breast-cancer management, and the subsequent modifications adopted by clinicians, scientific groups, and governments as a response to the novel conditions. Screening and diagnosis, as well as breast-cancer treatment paths—especially surgical interventions—were the most affected domains, while patients’ psychological burden also emerged as a notable consequence. The aftermath of diagnostic and surgical delays is yet to be assessed, while the treatment alterations and the introduction of new therapeutic schemes might signify the opening of a novel era in breast-cancer management.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/21/5360breast cancerCOVID-19cancer carescreeningsurgerypsychological distress |
| spellingShingle | Zoe Petropoulou Nikolaos Arkadopoulos Nikolaos V. Michalopoulos Breast Cancer and COVID-19: Challenges in Surgical Management Cancers breast cancer COVID-19 cancer care screening surgery psychological distress |
| title | Breast Cancer and COVID-19: Challenges in Surgical Management |
| title_full | Breast Cancer and COVID-19: Challenges in Surgical Management |
| title_fullStr | Breast Cancer and COVID-19: Challenges in Surgical Management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Breast Cancer and COVID-19: Challenges in Surgical Management |
| title_short | Breast Cancer and COVID-19: Challenges in Surgical Management |
| title_sort | breast cancer and covid 19 challenges in surgical management |
| topic | breast cancer COVID-19 cancer care screening surgery psychological distress |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/21/5360 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zoepetropoulou breastcancerandcovid19challengesinsurgicalmanagement AT nikolaosarkadopoulos breastcancerandcovid19challengesinsurgicalmanagement AT nikolaosvmichalopoulos breastcancerandcovid19challengesinsurgicalmanagement |