JCO Global Oncology (May 2022)

Impact of COVID-19 Disease in Early Breast Cancer Management: A Summary of the Current Evidence

  • Francisco Pimentel Cavalcante,
  • Edson Abdala,
  • Leonardo Weissmann,
  • Carlos Eduardo dos Santos Ferreira,
  • Gilberto Amorim,
  • Vilmar Marques de Oliveira,
  • Gisah Guilgen,
  • Luciana Landeiro,
  • João Renato Rebello Pinho,
  • Álvaro Pulchinelli,
  • Heber Ribeiro,
  • Rafael Souza,
  • Daniela Dornelles Rosa

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1200/GO.21.00357
Journal volume & issue
no. 8

Abstract

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PURPOSEAn expert panel on breast cancer and COVID-19 disease was convened to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for early breast cancer (eBC) management.METHODSTo ensure that the most clinically relevant information was addressed, essential information was drawn from several of the latest national and international guidelines and another technical document. The expert panel met in five virtual closed sessions from November 2020 to May 2021 to consult on the relevant data from evidence-based results. The data gathered were discussed on an online platform.RESULTSThis article reports the expert panel's highlights of these meetings' discussions. In addition, it provides practical recommendations covering topics regarding diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with eBC in clinical settings routinely encountered by health care professionals amid the COVID-19 pandemic.CONCLUSIONThis article provided guidance on several topics regarding eBC management amid the COVID-19 pandemics to inform safer care practices.