Execution of the breast cancer and cervical cancer screening programs in Poland in the first period of restrictions introduced due to the COVID -19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction and objective Prophylactic examinations allow the reduction in morbidity from breast cancer and cervical cancer. The aim of the study was to estimate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the first months of restrictions in public life, introduced due to the risk of its outbreak, on the provision of services within cancer prevention programmes in Poland. Material and methods The analysis was performed based on information concerning the number of mammography and cytology tests carried out as part of the breast cancer screening programme and cervical cancer screening programme. The study was conducted during January – May in 2020, and the same period in 2019 – as a basis for comparison. The data relate to three (out of sixteen) Polish Provinces: Katowice, Warsaw and Olsztyn. Results At the time when pandemic restrictions were in force throughout the full months (April-May 2020) the number of mammography tests decreased by over 90% and the number of cytology tests decreased by more than 85%, compared to the same period in 2019. During the period of study, no statistically significant relationship was observed between a decrease in the number of screening tests and the number of recorded SARS-CoV-2 infections in individual provinces. Conclusions Restrictions in public life introduced due to COVID-19 pandemic exerted a negative effect on breast cancer and cervical cancer prevention screening programmes. The reduction of attendance in screening tests for women in Poland was significant and, as a result, may affect individual prognosis of cancer patients due to the delay in detection of the disease

Keywords

• breast cancer
• cervical cancer
• secondary prevention
• covid-19