ecancermedicalscience

Review

A practical approach to the management of breast cancer in the COVID-19 era and beyond

17 Jun 2020
Alison Luther, Avi Agrawal

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a major shift in how breast services are being utilised and managed. The guidelines relating to this have been published by recognised medical associations from the UK, Europe and the USA, addressing many aspects of breast cancer care. There is an awareness that there may be limitations in resources during this time, and therefore, prioritisation strategies have been identified to ensure that breast cancer patients are appropriately treated, whilst reducing the risk of infection from COVID-19 to both patients and staff.

Equally important is the consideration of how breast cancer services can be safely re-introduced, as infection rates from COVID-19 decline. However, until there is a definite management strategy for COVID-19, such as a vaccine being developed, it is likely that there will still be a significant impact from COVID-19 on breast cancer care. This paper, therefore, aims to highlight the current guidance and evidence regarding breast cancer management in the era of COVID-19, and also aims to look at future management strategies in this period of uncertainty.

Related Articles

Leonardo G Da Fonseca, Duilio Reis da Rocha Filho, Aline Lopes Chagas, Alexandre Jacome, Leila Moreira Beltrao Pereira, Rogerio Alves, Mario Reis Alvares-da-Silva, Mauro Donadio, Ana Paula Victorino, Federico Piñero, Cassia Guedes Leal
Zakayo Ernesti, Emanuel Lugina, Chacha J Mwita, Felister Tupa, Herriethsiah S Noah, John R Ngowi, Charles Wood, Julius Mwaiselage, Salum J Lidenge
Neha Singh, Sujata Agrawal, Zachariah Chowdhury, Shashikant Patne, Ipsita Dhal, Paramita Paul, Sadaf Haiyat, Akhil Kapoor, Anuj Gupta, Bal Krishna Mishra, Mayank Tripathi, Bipinesh Sansar
Chase Peng Yun Ng, Asmita Raja, Alicia Hunter, Sai Kalpitha Eragamreddy, Grace Tan, Shahin Sayed, Looi Lai-Meng, Leke Folaranmi, Beatriz Hornburg, Meritxell Mallafre-Larrosa, Julie Torode, Ajay Aggarwal, Kenneth Fleming, Richard Sullivan
Elizabeth Hatzaw, Jane Ralte, Vignesh Krishnasamy, Lalengkimi Ralte, Rajendra Bose Muthukumaran, Kasi Marimuthu, Nachimuthu Senthil Kumar
Ryan R. Lion, Glenn Mbah, Nathalie De Sousa Santos, Anne Gagnepain-Lacheteau, Karim Assani, Aissata Barry, Viviane Bissyande, Chantal Bouda, Aleine Budiongo, Isaac Bahati Chuma, Line Couitchéré, Fatou Binetou Diagne Akondé, Mame Ndella Diouf, Aimée Kissou, Robert Lukamba Mbuli, Boubacar Togo, Kan Paulin Yao, Yao Atteby Jean Jacques, Lea Zaho, Ekhtelbenina Zein, Isatou Bah Madison, Laila Hessissen