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Effects of COVID-19 pandemic in a breast unit: Is it possible to avoid delays in surgical treatment?
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  • GAMZE KIZILTAN,
  • BILGE KAGAN CETIN TUMER,
  • Onur Can Guler,
  • Cihangir Özaslan
GAMZE KIZILTAN
Ankara Dr Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital

Corresponding Author:kiziltan.gamze@gmail.com

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BILGE KAGAN CETIN TUMER
Ankara Dr Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital
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Onur Can Guler
Ankara Dr Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital
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Cihangir Özaslan
Ankara Dr Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital
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Abstract

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has caused fear all around the world. With people avoiding hospitals, there has been a significant decrease in outpatient clinics. In this study, we aimed to compare and explore the first-peak of the pandemic period by studying its effects on patient applications, new diagnoses, and treatment approaches in a non-infected hospital. Methods: We collected data from the first peak of the pandemic period in Turkey, from the pandemic’s declaration (March 11, 2020) to social normalization (June 1, 2020), and compared it with data from a pre-pandemic period with a similar length of time. We analyzed the data of breast cancer patients from application to surgery. Results: The data of 34,577 patients were analyzed for this study. The number of patients who applied to outpatient clinics decreased significantly during the pandemic period. After excluding control patients and benign disorders, a figure was reached for the number of patients who had a new diagnosis of breast cancer (146 vs 250), were referred to neoadjuvant treatment (18 vs 34), and were treated with surgery (121 vs 229). All numbers decreased during the pandemic period, except for surgeries after neoadjuvant treatment (29 vs 27). Surgical treatment approaches also changed. However, the rate of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients treated with surgery was similar in both periods. None of these patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 or died during the pandemic. Conclusion: This study shows that non-infected hospitals can be useful in avoiding delays in the surgical treatment of cancer patients.
09 Feb 2021Submitted to International Journal of Clinical Practice
10 Feb 2021Submission Checks Completed
10 Feb 2021Assigned to Editor
24 Apr 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
29 Apr 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
09 Jun 20211st Revision Received
12 Jun 2021Submission Checks Completed
12 Jun 2021Assigned to Editor
12 Jun 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
15 Jun 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
27 Oct 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
02 Nov 2021Published in International Journal of Clinical Practice. 10.1111/ijcp.14995