Changes in Colorectal Cancer Practices during the Early COVID-19 Period

Objective: The aim of our study is to investigate the management of colorectal cancer patients during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has affected our daily routine. We aimed to compare our results between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods, and evaluate any seasonal differences within the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: Our retrospective study was conducted in a single center. We included all participants who had elective and emergency gastrointestinal operations due to colorectal cancer between March 2019 and March 2021. Participant data were separated and compared between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods, with the latter divided into two groups (Group 1: Phase 1-2, Group 2: Phase 3). Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the cases treated before and during the COVID-19 pandemic period in terms of mean age, gender distribution, diagnosis, tumor location, American Society of Anesthetists (ASA) score, recurrence, or mortality (p>0.05). We found no differences between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods in admission to the hospital, surgical approach, need for stoma, complications, length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), total hospitalization, or tumor stage (p>0.05). However, we observed that the percentage of open surgical operations was statistically significantly higher, and the percentage of laparoscopic surgical operations was statistically significantly lower in Group 2 compared to Group 1 (p=0.020). Conclusion: The pandemic periods should not be assessed with the same perspective. Treatment approaches can change according to hospital capacity during peak periods of COVID-19 disease.

Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Prevention of Colorectal Cancer-An English Version.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common malignancy in Korea and has been ranked as the third leading cause of cancer deaths in 2020. Although the incidence and mortality rates of CRC have decreased in recent years in Korea, it is still a significant public health burden. From the early 1990s until the mid-2000s, the 5-year relative survival of patients with CRC in Korea continuously increased. This finding appears to be a consequence of the successful introduction of a government-led screening program; the development of improved surgical techniques, anticancer drugs, and adjuvant treatment; and the advancement of medical resources and infrastructure along with economic growth. However, the improvement in survival has stagnated since the late 2000s. The recent coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak led to a reduction in hospital visits and screenings, which is expected to cause a stage shift to advanced disease stages and a worse prognosis for patients with CRC. Exploring modifiable environmental risk factors and appropriate screening test methods in Korea is necessary to overcome these challenges. Primary prevention through risk factor mediation and secondary prevention using suitable screening programs can help reduce the incidence and mortality rates of CRC.

The Boseman Effect: A Missed Opportunity?

Introduction Public figures, namely celebrities, are highly influential people whose actions and thoughts are often emulated, especially regarding healthcare. Understanding trends in public interest may provide an opportunity for further patient education. Given the changes of the COVID-19 pandemic along with the highly publicized death of actor Chadwick Boseman, who died from complications of colon cancer, we analyzed trends in colon cancer searches over a 15-month period. Methods Google Trends (Google, Mountain View, California) was used to access search histories in the United States from January 1, 2020, through April 30, 2021. Four search terms were analyzed: "colon cancer", "colonoscopy", "Cologuard", and "virtual colonoscopy". Google Trends reports data as relative search volume (RSV), a scaled number from 0-100 reflecting interest in a particular search term over a set time. Search terms were analyzed on the same RSV scale with one-way ANOVAs comparing search volumes during four eight-week blocks. Results Google Trends data was reported weekly. Search volume for colon cancer was higher (17.3, p=0.00) over the eight weeks following Boseman's death, while search volume for colonoscopy returned to normal (21.5, p=0.95) when compared to pre-pandemic levels. Conclusion The peak in colon cancer searches in late August of 2020 corresponds to the death of Chadwick Boseman on 8/28/2020. Colonoscopy interest decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic before returning to previous levels around the time of Boseman's death without experiencing the same spike in interest. This discrepancy represents a missed opportunity for patient education on this preventable disease.

Masculinity Barriers to Ever Completing Colorectal Cancer Screening among American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, and White Men (Ages 45-75).

Disparities in colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality among White, Black, and American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) men are attributable to differences in early detection screening. Determining how masculinity barriers influence CRC screening completion is critical for cancer prevention and control. To determine whether masculinity barriers to medical care are associated with lower rates of ever completing CRC screening, a survey-based study was employed from December 2020-January 2021 among 435 White, Black, and AIAN men (aged 45-75) who resided in the US. Logistic regression models were fit to four Masculinity Barriers to Medical Care subscales predicting ever completing CRC screening. For all men, being strong was associated with 54% decreased odds of CRC screening completion (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.94); each unit increase in negative attitudes toward medical professionals and exams decreased the odds of ever completing CRC screening by 57% (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.86). Black men who scored higher on negativity toward medical professionals and exams had decreased odds of ever screening. Consideration of masculinity in future population-based and intervention research is critical for increasing men's participation in CRC screening, with more salience for Black men.

Results of surgical treatment of uncomplicated colon cancer: case series with follow-up / Resultados del tratamiento quirúrgico del cáncer de colon no complicado: serie de casos con seguimiento

SUMMARY: The standard treatment of colonic cancer (CC) continues to be the radical resection of the intestinal segment compromised with free margins, associated or not with adjuvant therapies. The aim of this study was to determine postoperative morbidity (POM) and 5-year overall survival (OS) in patients with uncomplicated colon cancer surgically treated. Retrospective case series of patients with uncomplicated CC undergoing colectomy and lymphadenectomy, consecutively, at Clínica Red Salud Mayor Temuco, between 2007 and 2019. The outcomes variable were POM and 5-years OS. Other variables of interest were surgical time, number of resected lymph nodes, hospital stay and recurrence. Descriptive statistics was used (measures of central tendency and dispersion), and OS analysis was applying Kaplan Meier curves. In this study, 52 patients (53.8 % men) were intervened, with a median age of 68 years. The most frequent localization and stages were right colon (42.3 %); IIIA and IIIB respectively (78.9 %). Median surgical time, number of resected lymph nodes and hospital stay were 98 min, 34 and 4.5 days respectively. POM was 17.3 % (9 cases). With a median follow- up of 58 months, a recurrence of 19.2 % was verified, and the 5-year OS for stages IIA, IIIA, IIIB and IVA was 83.3 %, 73.6 %, 68.2 % and 40.0 % respectively. The results, in terms of POM, mortality and 5-year OS, were similar to national and international series.

RESUMEN: El tratamiento estándar del cáncer de colon (CC), continua siendo la resección radical del segmento intestinal comprometido con márgenes libres (al menos 5 cm por encima y debajo del tumor), pudiendo asociarse o no a terapias complementarias. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar morbilidad postoperatoria (MPO) y supervivencia actuarial global (SVAG) a 5 años en pacientes resecados por CC no complicado. Serie de casos con seguimiento, de pacientes con CC no complicado, sometidos a colectomía subtotal y linfadenectomía, de forma consecutiva, en Clínica Red Salud Mayor Temuco, entre 2007 y 2019. Las variables resultado fueron MPO y SV actuarial global (SVAG) a 5 años. Otras variables de interés fueron: tiempo quirúrgico, número de linfonodos resecados, estancia hospitalaria y recurrencia. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva, con medidas de tendencia central y dispersión; y análisis de SV con curvas de Kaplan Meier. Se intervinieron 52 pacientes (53,8 % hombres), con una mediana de edad de 68 años. La localización y estadios más frecuentes fueron colon derecho (42,3 %); IIIA y IIIB respectivamente (78,9 %). La resecabilidad de la serie fue 100 %. La medianas del tiempo quirúrgico, del número de linfonodos resecados y de estancia hospitalaria; fueron de 98 min, 34 y 4.5 días respectivamente. La MPO fue 17,3 % (9 casos). Con una mediana de seguimiento de 58 meses, se verificó una recurrencia de 19,2 %; y una SVAG a 5 años para los estadios IIA, IIIA, IIIB y IVA; de 83,3 %; 73,6 %; 68,2 % y 40,0 % respectivamente. Los resultados obtenidos, en términos de MPO, mortalidad y SVAG a 5 años, fueron similares a series de nacionales e internacionales.