Extremely Advanced Breast Cancer Presentation: Possible Effect of Coronavirus Pandemic Anxiety

Overview

Journal In Vivo

Specialty Oncology

Date 2021 Jun 28

PMID 34182514

Citations 1

Authors

Gianluca Vanni

Francesca Santori

Marco Pellicciaro

Marco Materazzo

Jonathan Caspi

Alessandra Vittoria Granai

Adriano De Majo

Francesca Servadei

Erica Giacobbi

Tommaso Perretta

Rosaria Meucci

Chiara Adriana Pistolese

Oreste Claudio Buonomo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background/aim: Corona virus infection dramatically spread worldwide during 2020 and extraordinary restrictions have been implemented in order to reduce viral transmission. These measures compelled a complete restructuring of the health system, including temporary cancer screening suspension and a significant slow-down in cancer diagnoses and treatments.

Case Report: We report five cases of extremely advanced breast cancer referred to our Department amid the COVID-19 pandemic. These patients exhibited a poor prognosis or worse quality of life due to their oncological disease.

Conclusion: In our opinion, both the slow-down of diagnosis and treatment of oncological disease and anxiety over COVID-19 influenced this presentation. Moreover, other patients were unable to receive palliative care. Hopefully, these cases will not develop into extremely advanced-stage disease, and we will be able to provide at least the necessary palliative care.

Citing Articles

Acute Appendicitis During Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Increasing Incidence of Complicate Appendicitis, Severity and Length of Hospitalization.

Pellicciaro M, Vanni G, Grande S, Materazzo M, Santori F, DI Cesare T In Vivo. 2022; 36(3):1325-1332.

PMID: 35478123 PMC: 9087104. DOI: 10.21873/invivo.12833.

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