COVID-19 effects on breast cancer patients: Symptom presentation and critical intervals in a Malaysian hospital
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2022
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is distressing especially in countries where resources are thin. In Malaysia, there is concern over its effects on the wellbeing of non-COVID patients. We compare critical intervals between pre-pandemic and pandemic breast cancer patients. Methods: This cohort study involved 100 patients, 50 diagnosed pre-pandemic and 50 diagnosed during the pandemic. Symptoms were categorized into three (breast lump, non-breast lump and non-breast symptoms). Presentation interval was the time from symptoms to first presentation at a clinic. Diagnosis interval was the time from first presentation to diagnosis, and treatment interval was the time from diagnosis to initial treatment. Results: Mean times for presentation, diagnosis and treatment intervals in the pre-pandemic group were 14.48 months, 10.94 days, and 21.18 days, respectively. The pandemic group recorded 34.64 months, 17.14 days, and 17.14 days, respectively. Three main presenting symptoms in pre-pandemic and pandemic groups were breast lumps (92 and 98), followed by non-lump breast symptoms (14 and 30) and non-breast symptoms (2 and 6). Conclusions: The extended presentation and diagnosis intervals may be a result of movement restrictions during the outbreak. Screening should not be neglected. The pandemic should not set us back but aids us in a global reset. © 2022 Optica Publishing Group under the terms of the Optica Open Access Publishing Agreement.
Keywords
Breast cancer, COVID-19 pandemic, Critical intervals, Oncology, Presenting symptoms
Divisions
fac_med,Socialprevent,surgerydept
Funders
None
Publication Title
Journal of Public Health and Emergency
Volume
6
Publisher
AME Publishing Company
Additional Information
Cited by: 0; All Open Access, Gold Open Access