Delayed diagnosis and increased mortality risk: Assessing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer recurrence.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant global impact since its declaration in March 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted cancer patients, particularly those with breast cancer. This study aims to analyze the effects of the pandemic on women diagnosed with breast cancer recurrence. METHODS: A cohort study was conducted at a tertiary public hospital in São Paulo State, Brazil. Data were collected from electronic records. Patients diagnosed with breast cancer and experiencing recurrence between January 2011 and March 2022 were included. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier estimator and Cox regression. RESULTS: The study included 187 patients, 45 in the pandemic group (recurrence after March 23, 2020) and 142 in the pre-pandemic group. Distant recurrences were more frequent in both groups (pre-pandemic: 62.7 %, pandemic: 75.5 %). Compared to the pre-pandemic group (1.8 years), the pandemic group experienced a longer mean time to recurrence detection (2.9 years) and significantly decreased median survival (9 months vs. 22 months). The Cox regression analysis confirmed an increased risk of death for women diagnosed with breast cancer recurrence during the pandemic period (HR = 1.92, 95 % CI 1.19‒3.12). CONCLUSION: The present study is among the first to investigate the pandemic's specific effects on breast cancer recurrence, revealing concerning delays in detection and a decrease in survival rates. Prompt diagnosis, timely treatment initiation, and comprehensive support are crucial during public health crises. These findings urge healthcare systems to prioritize tailored care for breast cancer patients during pandemics.

Delayed diagnosis and increased mortality risk: Assessing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer recurrence

Abstract Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant global impact since its declaration in March 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted cancer patients, particularly those with breast cancer. This study aims to analyze the effects of the pandemic on women diagnosed with breast cancer recurrence. Methods A cohort study was conducted at a tertiary public hospital in São Paulo State, Brazil. Data were collected from electronic records. Patients diagnosed with breast cancer and experiencing recurrence between January 2011 and March 2022 were included. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier estimator and Cox regression. Results The study included 187 patients, 45 in the pandemic group (recurrence after March 23, 2020) and 142 in the pre-pandemic group. Distant recurrences were more frequent in both groups (pre-pandemic: 62.7 %, pandemic: 75.5 %). Compared to the pre-pandemic group (1.8 years), the pandemic group experienced a longer mean time to recurrence detection (2.9 years) and significantly decreased median survival (9 months vs. 22 months). The Cox regression analysis confirmed an increased risk of death for women diagnosed with breast cancer recurrence during the pandemic period (HR = 1.92, 95 % CI 1.19‒3.12). Conclusion The present study is among the first to investigate the pandemic's specific effects on breast cancer recurrence, revealing concerning delays in detection and a decrease in survival rates. Prompt diagnosis, timely treatment initiation, and comprehensive support are crucial during public health crises. These findings urge healthcare systems to prioritize tailored care for breast cancer patients during pandemics.

Mastectomia preventiva em situações de câncer de mama precoce / Preventive mastectomy in situations of early breast cancer: an integrative review

A mastectomia preventiva relacionada às neoplasias de mama precoces é um tema de grande importância na área da oncologia, especialmente para mulheres com alto risco genético de desenvolver câncer de mama. Objetivo: Descrever como a mastectomia relaciona-se com a prevenção de neoplasias de mama precoces. Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura. Para construção da pesquisa, a coleta e análise de dados foi realizada através do Portal da Biblioteca Virtual da Saúde e da base de dados Medical Literature Analysis and Retrievel System Online via PubMed, através dos Descritores em Ciências da Saúde (DeCS): "Mastectomia Profilática", "Neoplasias da Mama" e "Fatores de Risco" combinados entre si pelo operador booleano AND. Como critérios de inclusão: estudos relacionados à temática excluindo-se as revisões de literatura, com delimitação temporal dos últimos cinco anos, nos idiomas inglês, português e espanhol. A questão norteadora foi construída com base na estratégia PICo de acordo com a descrição (População, Interesse e Contexto). Resultados: Foram encontrados 76 artigos, destes 64 foram excluídos devido aos filtros utilizados e a leitura dos resumos e na íntegra, restando apenas 12 estudos para compor a amostra final. Em suma, os estudos demonstram que a mastectomia preventiva pode oferecer às mulheres com alto risco genético uma opção para reduzir suas chances de desenvolver câncer de mama. Conclusão: A mastectomia preventiva relacionada às neoplasias de mama precoces é uma opção terapêutica complexa e individualizada, que busca reduzir o risco de desenvolvimento ou recorrência do câncer de mama em mulheres de alto risco

: Preventive mastectomy related to early breast neoplasms is a topic of great concern in the field of oncology, especially for women with a high genetic risk of developing breast cancer. Objective: To describe how mastectomy is related to the prevention of early breast cancer. Methods: This is an integrative literature review. For the construction of the research, data collection and analysis was carried out through the Virtual Health Library Portal and the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrievel System Online database via PubMed, through the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS): "Prophylactic Mastectomy","Breast Neoplasms" and "Risk Factors" combined with the Boolean AND operator. As inclusion criteria: studies related to the theme excluding literature reviews,with publication time delimitation of the last five years, in English, Portuguese and Spanish. The research question was structured based on the PICo strategy according to the description (Population, Interest and Context). Results: 76 articles were found, of which 64 were excluded after the filters application. We performed the reading of abstracts and full text, and 12 studies were selected to compose the final sample. In summary, studies demonstrate that preventive mastectomy can offer women at high genetic risk an option to reduce their chances of developing breast cancer. Conclusion: Preventive mastectomy related to early breast neoplasms is a complex and individualized therapeutic option that seeks to reduce the risk of breast cancer development or recurrence in high-risk women

Factors Related to the Recurrence of Low-grade Gliomas / Fatores relacionados à recorrência dos gliomas de baixo grau

Objective To identify the determining factors for reoperation in patients with low-grade gliomas, taking into account the degree of resection, and to analyze the histological aspects, observing possible transformations with signs of malignancy in the tissue samples. Materials and Methods The sample consisted of 40 cases of low-grade glioma that were operated on at Hospital das Clínicas de Botucatu between 2013 and 2019. Results The mean follow-up was of 37 months, and the sample was composed of 28 men and 12 women with a mean age at the first surgery of 43.1 15.6 years. Epileptic seizures were observed in 31 (77.5%) patients. According to the histological classification, half of the patients presented oligodendroglioma (50%), of grade II in most cases (97.5%). Total or subtotal resection was achieved in 22 (55%) patients. Only one patient underwent radiotherapy, and two underwent chemotherapy. Reoperation was performed in 20 (50%) patients. The median interval between the first surgery and the reapproach was of 16 (range: 0­77) months. In the second approach, the histological classification was of astrocytoma in 4 (20%) cases, oligoastrocytoma in another 4 (20%), oligodendroglioma in 7 (35%), and glioblastoma in 5 (25%) cases. The only variable associated with the need for reoperation was the degree of resection after the first surgery (p » 0.013). Conclusions Total resection of low-grade gliomas, when feasible, should be performed to avoid recurrence.

Objetivo Apontar os fatores determinantes para a reoperação em pacientes com gliomas de baixo grau considerando o grau de ressecção, e analisar os aspectos histológicos, observando possíveis transformações com sinais de malignidade nas amostras teciduais estudadas. Materiais e Métodos A casuística foi composta por 40 casos de gliomas de baixo grau operados no Hospital das Clínicas de Botucatu de 2013 a 2019. Resultados O tempo médio de seguimento de foi de 37 meses, sendo a amostra composta de 28 homens e 12 mulheres com idade média à primeira cirurgia de 43,1 15,6 anos. Crises epilépticas foram observadas em 31 pacientes (77,5%). Na classificação histológica, a metade dos pacientes apresentou oligodendroglioma (50%), sendo de grau II na maioria dos casos (97,5%). Ressecção total ou subtotal foi atingida 22 pacientes (55%). Apenas um paciente foi submetido a radioterapia, e dois, a quimioterapia. Reoperação foi realizada em 20 pacientes (50%). O intervalo mediano entre a primeira cirurgia e a reabordagem foi de 16 (variação: 0­77) meses; na segunda abordagem, a classificação histológica foi de astrocitoma em 4 casos (20%), oligoastrocitoma em outros 4 (20%), oligodendroglioma em 7 casos (35%), e glioblastoma em 5 casos (25%). A única variável que apresentou associação com a necessidade de reoperação foi o grau de ressecção da primeira cirurgia (p » 0,013). Conclusão A ressecção total dos gliomas de baixo grau, quando factível, deve ser buscada com a finalidade de evitar a sua recorrência.