Implementation and evaluation of a national quality improvement initiative in cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: In 2017, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, a Canadian federally sponsored organisation, initiated a national multijurisdictional quality improvement (QI) initiative to maximise the use of synoptic data to drive cancer system improvements, known as the Evidence for Surgical Synoptic Quality Improvement Programme. The goal of our study was to evaluate the outcomes, determinants and learning of this nationally led initiative across six jurisdictions in Canada, integrating a mix of cancer surgery disease sites and clinicians. METHODS: A mixed-methods evaluation (surveys, semistructured interviews and focus groups) of this initiative was focused on the ability of each jurisdiction to use synoptic reporting data to successfully implement and sustain QI projects to beyond the completion of the initiative and the lessons learnt in the process. Resources provided to the jurisdictions included operational funding, training in QI methodology, national forums, expert coaches, and ad hoc monitoring and support. The programme emphasised foundational concepts of the QI process including data literacy, audit and feedback reports, communities of practice (CoP) and positive deviance methodology. RESULTS: 101 CoP meetings were held and 337 clinicians received feedback reports. There were 23 projects, and 22 of 23 (95%) showed improvements with 15 of 23 (65%) achieving the proposed targets. Enablers of effective data utilisation/feedback reports for QI included the need for clinicians to trust the data, have comparative data for feedback, and the engagement of both data scientists and clinicians in designing feedback reports. Enablers of sustainability of QI within each jurisdiction included QI training for clinicians, the ability to continue CoP meetings, executive and broad stakeholder engagement, and the ability to use pre-existing organisational infrastructures and processes. Barriers to continue QI work included lack of funding for core team members, lack of automated data collection processes and lack of clinician incentives (financial and other). CONCLUSION: Success and sustainability in data-driven QI in cancer surgery require skills in QI methodology, data literacy and feedback, dedicated supportive personnel and an environment that promotes the process of collective learning and shared accountability. Building these capabilities in jurisdictional teams, tailoring interventions to facility contexts and strong leadership engagement will create the capacity for continued success in QI for cancer surgery.

Malignant Gastrointestinal Neuroectodermal Tumor (GNET) Mimicking Small Bowel Lymphoma: A Case Report.

A malignant gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumor (GNET) is a rare entity, characterized as a malignant mesenchymal neoplasm occurring exclusively near the gastrointestinal tract, prone to frequent local recurrence and metastasis. Here, we report a case of a 49-year-old male presented with abdominal pain and weight loss. The patient had a remote history of thymic B-cell lymphoma. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a focal wall thickening of the terminal ileum with mesenteric lymphadenopathy, suggestive of lymphoma. A core needle biopsy of the mesenteric node was inconclusive. A right hemicolectomy was subsequently performed. Histologically, abundant multinucleated osteoclast-like giant cells are present. The tumor cells show diffuse strong positivity for S100 and SOX10. EWSR1-ATF1 gene fusion was identified by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), consistent with a diagnosis of GNET. This case emphasizes a diagnostic challenge of a rare malignancy.

An Immersive Virtual Reality Intervention for Preoperative Anxiety and Distress Among Adults Undergoing Oncological Surgery: Protocol for a 3-Phase Development and Feasibility Trial.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative state anxiety (PSA) is distress and anxiety directly associated with perioperative events. PSA is associated with negative postoperative outcomes such as longer hospital length of stay, increased pain and opioid use, and higher rates of rehospitalization. Psychological prehabilitation, such as education, exposure to hospital environments, and relaxation strategies, has been shown to mitigate PSA; however, there are limited skilled personnel to deliver such interventions in clinical practice. Immersive virtual reality (VR) has the potential for greater accessibility and enhanced integration into an immersive and interactive experience. VR is rarely used in the preoperative setting, but similar forms of stress inoculation training involving exposure to stressful events have improved psychological preparation in contexts such as military deployment. OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to develop and investigate a targeted PSA intervention in patients undergoing oncological surgery using a single preoperative VR exposure. The primary objectives are to (1) develop a novel VR program for patients undergoing oncological surgery with general anesthesia; (2) assess the feasibility, including acceptability, of a single exposure to this intervention; (3) assess the feasibility, including acceptability, of outcome measures of PSA; and (4) use these results to refine the VR content and outcome measures for a larger trial. A secondary objective is to preliminarily assess the clinical utility of the intervention for PSA. METHODS: This study comprises 3 phases. Phase 1 (completed) involved the development of a VR prototype targeting PSA, using multidisciplinary iterative input. Phase 2 (data collection completed) involves examining the feasibility aspects of the VR intervention. This randomized feasibility trial involves assessing the novel VR preoperative intervention compared to a VR control (ie, nature trek) condition and a treatment-as-usual group among patients undergoing breast cancer surgery. Phase 3 will involve refining the prototype based on feasibility findings and input from people with lived experience for a future clinical trial, using focus groups with participants from phase 2. RESULTS: This study was funded in March 2019. Phase 1 was completed in April 2020. Phase 2 data collection was completed in January 2024 and data analysis is ongoing. Focus groups were completed in February 2024. Both the feasibility study and focus groups will contribute to further refinement of the initial VR prototype (phase 3), with the final simulation to be completed by mid-2024. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this work will contribute to the limited body of research examining feasible and broadly accessible interventions for PSA. Knowledge gained from this research will contribute to the final development of a novel VR intervention to be tested in a large population of patients with cancer before surgery in a randomized clinical trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04544618; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04544618. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/55692.

Measuring the impact of COVID-19 on cancer survival using an interrupted time series analysis.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer survival. Those studies that have included pandemic vs prepandemic comparisons can mask differences during different periods of the pandemic such as COVID-19 waves. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer survival using an interrupted time series analysis and to identify time points during the pandemic when observed survival deviated from expected survival. METHODS: A retrospective population-based cohort study that included individuals diagnosed with cancer between January 2015 and September 2021 from Manitoba, Canada, was performed. Interrupted time series analyses with Royston-Parmar models as well as Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and delta restricted mean survival times at 1 year were used to compare survival rates for those diagnosed before and after the pandemic. Analyses were performed for 11 cancer types. RESULTS: Survival at 1 year for most cancer types was not statistically different during the pandemic compared with prepandemic except for individuals aged 50-74 years who were diagnosed with lung cancer from April to June 2021 (delta restricted mean survival times = -31.6 days, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -58.3 to -7.2 days). CONCLUSIONS: With the exception of individuals diagnosed with lung cancer, the COVID-19 pandemic did not impact overall 1-year survival in Manitoba. Additional research is needed to examine the impact of the pandemic on long-term cancer survival.

Preoperative Virtual Reality to Expose Patients With Breast Cancer to the Operating Room Environment: Feasibility and Pilot Case Series Study.

BACKGROUND: Clinically elevated preoperative distress and anxiety are common among patients undergoing cancer surgery. Preoperative interventions have been developed to mitigate this distress and anxiety but are inconsistent in efficacy and feasibility for broad implementation. OBJECTIVE: This preliminary pilot study aims to assess the feasibility and utility of a newly developed virtual reality (VR) intervention to expose patients awaiting breast cancer surgery to the operating room environment and a simulation of anesthetic induction. METHODS: Patients undergoing breast cancer surgery (N=7) were assigned to the VR intervention or control (treatment as usual) group and completed self-report measures of distress and anxiety before surgery, on the day of surgery, and after surgery (5 and 30 d postoperatively). Those in the intervention group trialed the VR simulation 1 to 2 weeks preoperatively and provided qualitative and quantitative feedback. We assessed the feasibility of recruitment capability and study design and evaluated participants' impressions of the intervention using self-report rating scales and open-ended questions. We also descriptively examined distress and anxiety levels throughout the duration of the study. RESULTS: Recruitment occurred between December 2021 and December 2022 and progressed slowly (rate: 1 participant/7 wk on average; some hesitancy because of stress and being overwhelmed). All participants who consented to participate completed the entire study. All participants were female and aged 56 (SD 10.56) years on average. In total, 57% (4/7) of the participants were assigned to the intervention group. On average, intervention participants spent 12 minutes engaged in the VR simulation. In general, the intervention was rated favorably (eg, clear information, enjoyable, and attractive presentation; mean% agreement 95.00-96.25, SD 4.79-10.00) and as helpful (mean% agreement 87.50, SD 25.00). Participants described the intervention as realistic (eg, "It was realistic to my past surgical experiences"), impacting their degree of preparedness and expectations for surgery (eg, "The sounds and sights and procedures give you a test run; they prepare you for the actual day"), and having a calming or relaxing effect (eg, "You feel more relaxed for the surgery"). CONCLUSIONS: This preoperative VR intervention demonstrated preliminary feasibility among a sample of patients undergoing breast cancer surgery. Results and participant feedback will inform modifications to the VR intervention and the study design of a large-scale randomized controlled trial to examine the efficacy of this intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04544618; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04544618.

Cancer incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic by region of residence in Manitoba, Canada: A cancer registry-based interrupted time series study.

INTRODUCTION: Health care in Manitoba, Canada is divided into five regions, each with unique geographies, demographics, health care access, and health status. COVID-19-related restrictions and subsequent responses also differed by region. To understand the impact of the pandemic on cancer incidence in the context of these differences, we examined age-standardized cancer incidence rates by region over time before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We used a population-based quasi-experimental study design, population-based data, and an interrupted time series analysis to examine the rate of new cancer diagnoses before (January 2015 until December 2019) and after the start of COVID-19 and the interventions implemented to mitigate its impact (April 2020 until December 2021) by region. RESULTS: Overall cancer incidence differed by region and remained lower than expected in Winnipeg (4.6% deficit, 447 cases), Prairie Mountain (6.9% deficit, 125 cases), and Southern (13.0% deficit, 238 cases). Southern was the only region that had a significantly higher deficit in cases compared to Manitoba (ratio 0.92, 95% CI 0.86, 0.99). Breast and colorectal cancer incidence decreased at the start of the pandemic in all regions except Northern. Lung cancer incidence decreased in the Interlake-Eastern region and increased in the Northern region. Prostate cancer incidence increased in Interlake-Eastern. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer incidence differed by region. The deficit in the number of cases was largest in the southern region and was highest for breast and prostate cancers. Cancer incidence did not significantly decrease in the most northern, remote region.

Survival of Patients With Head and Neck Merkel Cell Cancer: Findings From the Pan-Canadian Merkel Cell Cancer Collaborative.

Importance: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma. Due to its relatively low incidence and limited prospective trials, current recommendations are guided by historical single-institution retrospective studies. Objective: To evaluate the overall survival (OS) of patients in Canada with head and neck MCC (HNMCC) according to American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th edition staging and treatment modalities. Design, Setting, and Participants: A retrospective cohort study of 400 patients with a diagnosis of HNMCC between July 1, 2000, and June 31, 2018, was conducted using the Pan-Canadian Merkel Cell Cancer Collaborative, a multicenter national registry of patients with MCC. Statistical analyses were performed from January to December 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was 5-year OS. Multivariable analysis using a Cox proportional hazards regression model was performed to identify factors associated with survival. Results: Between 2000 and 2018, 400 patients (234 men [58.5%]; mean [SD] age at diagnosis, 78.4 [10.5] years) with malignant neoplasms found in the face, scalp, neck, ear, eyelid, or lip received a diagnosis of HNMCC. At diagnosis, 188 patients (47.0%) had stage I disease. The most common treatment overall was surgery followed by radiotherapy (161 [40.3%]), although radiotherapy alone was most common for stage IV disease (15 of 23 [52.2%]). Five-year OS was 49.8% (95% CI, 40.7%-58.2%), 39.8% (95% CI, 26.2%-53.1%), 36.2% (95% CI, 25.2%-47.4%), and 18.5% (95% CI, 3.9%-41.5%) for stage I, II, III, and IV disease, respectively, and was highest among patients treated with surgery and radiotherapy (49.9% [95% CI, 39.9%-59.1%]). On multivariable analysis, patients treated with surgery and radiotherapy had greater OS compared with those treated with surgery alone (hazard ratio [HR], 0.76 [95% CI, 0.46-1.25]); however, this was not statistically significant. In comparison, patients who received no treatment had significantly worse OS (HR, 1.93 [95% CI, 1.26-2.96)]. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of the largest Canada-wide evaluation of HNMCC survival outcomes, stage and treatment modality were associated with survival. Multimodal treatment was associated with greater OS across all disease stages.

New Cancer Diagnoses Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Importance: Disruptions to health care during the COVID-19 pandemic may have led to missed cancer diagnoses. It is critical to evaluate the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and cancer incidence to address public and patient anxiety, inform recovery efforts, and identify strategies to reduce the system's vulnerability to future disruptions. Objective: To examine the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and cancer incidence in Manitoba, Canada. Design, Setting, and Participants: A population-based cross-sectional study design was conducted using data from the Manitoba Cancer Registry and an interrupted time-series analysis. All individuals diagnosed with cancer in Manitoba, Canada, from January 1, 2015, until December 31, 2021, were included. Individuals diagnosed with breast, colon, rectal, or lung cancer were grouped by age as follows: younger than 50 years, 50 to 74 years, and 75 years and older. Exposures: COVID-19 pandemic. Main Outcomes and Measures: Age-standardized cancer incidence rates and the estimated cumulative difference between the number of cases in the absence of COVID-19 and observed (fitted) number of cancer cases. Results: A total of 48 378 individuals were included. The median (IQR) age at diagnosis was 68 (59-77) years and 23 972 participants (49.6%) were female. In April 2020, there was a 23% decrease in overall cancer incidence. Cancer incidence decreased by 46% for breast, 35% for colon, 47% for rectal, 50% for head and neck, 65% for melanoma, and 33% for endocrine cancer diagnoses and increased by 12% for hematological cancer diagnoses and 8% for diagnoses of cancers with an unknown primary site. Lung cancer incidence remained stable until December 2020 when it decreased by 11%. Brain and central nervous system and urinary cancer diagnoses decreased consistently over time from April 2020 to December 2021 by 26% and 12%, respectively. No association was observed with gynecologic (1% increase), other digestive (1% decrease), or pancreatic (7% increase) cancer incidence. As of December 2021, Manitoba had an estimated deficit of 692 (5.3%) cancers. The largest estimated deficits were for breast (273 cases, 14.1% deficit), colon (133 cases, 12.2% deficit), and lung cancers (132 cases, 7.6% deficit). Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an initial decrease in cancer diagnosis incidence followed by a recovery for most cancer sites. However, the cumulative deficit for some cancers with high fatality needs immediate attention.

Prostate Cancer Metastasis to Stomach: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Metastatic prostate cancer is a common diagnosis with a protracted but terminal course. Gastrointestinal (GI) tract involvement is extremely rare, and reportedly portends a poor prognosis. It can present years after the initial prostate cancer diagnosis. Only fifteen cases of prostate cancer metastasis to the stomach have been reported in the literature. We report a case of a 72-year-old man with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and extensive bony involvement. He presented a decade after the diagnosis of prostate cancer with signs of heartburn; a gastric biopsy was initially believed to represent primary gastric carcinoma, but subsequently a diagnosis of prostate cancer metastatic to the stomach was confirmed. This case highlights the importance of the provision of a pertinent clinical history and clinical differential diagnosis at the time of submission of surgical pathology specimens, as well as highlighting the need to have a low index of suspicion to pursue additional pathologic markers whenever a presumed second adenocarcinoma is noted in the context of a patient having a history of current or prior advanced-stage adenocarcinoma of another site. The correct diagnosis can shield the patient from the morbidity of inappropriate surgical or medical management.

Breast cancer patient experiences of perioperative distress and anxiety: A qualitative study.

PURPOSE: Distress, often manifesting as anxiety, is common in breast cancer patients and becomes particularly elevated before surgery. This study investigated perspectives of those undergoing breast cancer surgery concerning what enhances and reduces distress and anxiety across the perioperative period (i.e., from diagnostic evaluation to recovery). METHODS: The present study conducted qualitative semi-structured individual interviews with 15 adult breast cancer surgery patients within three months post-operation. Quantitative surveys provided background information (e.g., sociodemographics). Individual interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: Four main themes emerged from qualitative interviews: 1) "fighting an unknown" (sub-themes: uncertainty, health-related knowledge and experience); 2) "the cancer takes away the control" (sub-themes: "living at the whim of others", trusting care providers); 3) person at the centre of the patient (sub-themes: "managing life:" caregiving and work-related stressors, "everybody jumped in to help:" emotional and instrumental support); and 4) physical and emotional impacts of treatment (sub-themes: pain and impacted mobility, "losing a part of yourself"). Breast cancer patients' experiences of surgery-related distress and anxiety were contextualized by broader experiences of care. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings illustrate the illness-specific experience of perioperative anxiety and distress in breast cancer patients and inform patient-centered care and intervention.

Healthcare-related correlates of preoperative psychological distress among a mixed surgical and cancer-specific sample.

OBJECTIVE: Preoperative distress is commonly experienced by surgical patients and is associated with adverse health-related outcomes. Research suggests preoperative distress may be elevated among cancer surgery patients relative to other surgical groups and there appears to be greater recognition of the adverse impacts of distress for these patients. This study examined associations between preoperative distress and postoperative healthcare-related correlates (e.g., length of stay, re-hospitalization) among a large, mixed surgical sample, and separately among cancer surgery patients with active cancer. METHODS: We analyzed secondary data from the Vascular Events In Non-cardiac Surgery Patients Cohort Evaluation (VISION) study - Mental Health Supplement (N = 997; n = 370 active cancer/cancer surgery). The Kessler 6-item Psychological Distress Scale assessed preoperative distress on the day of surgery. Multivariable regressions examined associations between distress and healthcare-related correlates. For significant relationships, we examined associations between anxiety and depressive subscales of distress with the correlates of interest. RESULTS: Among the full surgical sample, after adjustment, preoperative distress was associated with a greater length of stay (b = 0.01, 95% CI [0.00-0.02], R2 = 0.15, f2 = 0.18) and increased odds of re-hospitalization (AOR = 1.07, 95%CI [1.01-1.13]). Results were comparable among cancer surgery patients (length of stay: b = 0.02, re-hospitalization: AOR = 1.11). Post-hoc analyses revealed associations between anxiety symptoms and re-hospitalization (AOR range: 1.13-1.26) and between depressive symptoms and length of hospital stay (b range: 0.02-0.04, R2 range: 0.07-0.15, f2 range: 0.07-0.18). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest preoperative distress may be associated with greater postoperative healthcare needs. Results support the importance of screening for distress in the perioperative period.

Current Role of Immunotherapy in Gastric, Esophageal and Gastro-Esophageal Junction Cancers-A Report from the Western Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference.

Gastric, esophageal and gastro-esophageal junction cancers are associated with inferior outcomes. For early-stage disease, perioperative chemotherapy or chemoradiation followed by surgery is the standard treatment. For most patients with advanced upper gastrointestinal tract cancers, platinum-based chemotherapy remains a standard treatment. Recently, several randomized clinical trials have demonstrated the benefit of immunotherapy involving checkpoint inhibitors alone or in combination with chemotherapy in patients with gastro-esophageal cancer and have changed the treatment landscape. The Western Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference (WCGCCC), involving experts from four Western Canadian provinces, convened virtually on 16 June 2021 and developed the recommendations on the role of immunotherapy in patients with gastro-esophageal cancer.

Report from the Western Canadian Gastrointestinal Consensus Cancer Conference-Management of Total Neoadjuvant Therapy in Rectal Cancer.

An educational session related to the Western Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference (WCGCCC) was held virtually on 14 October 2020. The WCGCCC is an interactive multidisciplinary conference attended by health care professionals from across Western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba), who are involved in the care of patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists; pathologists, radiologists, and allied health care professionals participated in presentation and discussion sessions for the purpose of developing the recommendations presented here. This consensus statement addresses current issues in the management of total neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer.

Report from the Western Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference Virtual Education Series-Transition from Local to System Therapy and Optimal Sequencing of Systemic Therapy for HCC.

The Western Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference (WC-5) convened virtually on 10 February 2021. The WC-5 is an interactive multidisciplinary conference attended by health care professionals from across Western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) who are involved in the care of patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists; pathologists; radiologists; and allied health care professionals participated in presentation and discussion sessions for the purpose of developing the recommendations presented here. This consensus statement addresses current issues in the management of hepatocellular cancer (HCC). Recommendations have been made for the transition from local to systemic therapy and the optimal sequencing of systemic regimens in the management of HCC.

Report from the 21st Annual Western Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference; Calgary, Alberta; 20-21 September 2019.

The 21st annual Western Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference (WCGCCC) was held in Calgary, Alberta, 20-21 September 2019. The WCGCCC is an interactive multi-disciplinary conference attended by health care professionals from across Western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) involved in the care of patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and allied health care professionals such as dietitians and nurses participated in presentation and discussion sessions to develop the recommendations presented here. This consensus statement addresses current issues in the management of hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) cancers.

Evaluating the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on New Cancer Diagnoses and Oncology Care in Manitoba.

Individuals with cancer are vulnerable to infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19. Physical distancing, the reallocation of health care resources, and the implementation of procedures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 may also have serious consequences for people with cancer. We evaluated the impact of COVID-19 on new cancer diagnoses and oncology care in Manitoba, Canada using an interrupted time series design and data from the Manitoba Cancer Registry and CancerCare Manitoba's (CCMB) electronic medical record. In April 2020, there was a 23% decrease in new cancer diagnoses, a 21% decrease in pathology reports, and a 43% reduction in surgical resections. There was no difference in new cancer diagnoses by August 2020, surgery by July 2020, and pathology reports by September 2020. From April 2020 to June 2021, there was a 13% decrease in radiotherapy (RT) fractions, an 18% decrease in UCC visits, and a 52% decrease in in-person visits. There was no change in intravenous chemotherapy visits per month, first RT visits, or overall patient visits. The impact of COVID-19 on shifts in the stage at diagnosis and survival will be assessed in future analyses.

Correction: Ratnayake et al. Assessment of Breast Cancer Surgery in Manitoba: A Descriptive Study. Curr. Oncol. 2021, 28, 581-592.

The authors wish to make a correction to this paper due to a minor change in indicator definition [...].

Assessment of Breast Cancer Surgery in Manitoba: A Descriptive Study.

BACKGROUND: Variation in breast cancer surgical practice patterns can lead to poor clinical outcomes. It is important to measure and reduce variation to ensure all women diagnosed with breast cancer receive equitable, high-quality care. A population-based assessment of the variation in breast cancer surgery treatment and quality has never been conducted in Manitoba. The objective of this study was to assess the variation in surgical treatment patterns, quality of care, and post-operative outcomes for women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. METHODS: This descriptive study used data from the Manitoba Cancer Registry, Hospital Discharge Abstracts Database, Medical Claims, Manitoba Health Insurance Registry, and Statistics Canada. The study included women in Manitoba aged 20+ and diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2014. RESULTS: Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for node-negative disease ranged from 11.8% to 33.3%, timeliness (surgery within 30 days of consult) ranged from 33.3% to 60.2%, and re-excision ranged from 14.7% to 24.6% between health authorities. Women who underwent breast-conserving surgery had the shortest median length of stay and women who underwent mastectomy with immediate reconstruction had the longest median length of stay. In-hospital post-operative complications were higher among women who received mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (9.9%). CONCLUSION: Variation in surgical treatment, quality, and outcomes exist in Manitoba. The findings from this study can be used to inform cancer service delivery planning, quality improvement efforts, and policy development. Influencing data-driven change at the health system level is paramount to ensuring Manitobans receive the highest quality of care.

Evidence-Based Strategies for the Treatment of Peritoneal Malignancies during Health Care Resource Restriction: The COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has put enormous pressure on hospital resources, and has affected all aspects of patient care. As operative volumes decrease, cancer surgeries must be triaged and prioritized with careful thought and attention to ensure maximal benefit for the maximum number of patients. Peritoneal malignancies present a unique challenge, as surgical management can be resource intensive, but patients have limited non-surgical treatment options. This review summarizes current data on outcomes and resource utilization to help inform decision-making and case prioritization in times of constrained health care resources. Methods: A rapid literature review was performed, examining surgical and non-surgical outcomes data for peritoneal malignancies. Narrative data synthesis was cross-referenced with relevant societal guidelines. Peritoneal malignancy surgeons and medical oncologists reviewed recommendations to establish a national perspective on case triage and mitigating treatment strategies. Results and Conclusions: Triage of peritoneal malignancies during this time of restricted health care resource is nuanced and requires multidisciplinary discussion with consideration of individual patient factors. Prioritization should be given to patients where delay may compromise resectability of disease, and where alternative treatment options are lacking. Mitigating strategies such as systemic chemotherapy and/or surgical deferral may be utilized with close surveillance for disease stability or progression, which may affect surgical urgency. Unique hospital capacity, and ability to manage the complex post-operative course for these patients must also be considered to ensure patient and system needs are aligned.