The COVID-19 Pandemic Has Not Paused Breast Cancer

The COVID-19 pandemic may have paralyzed the world, but it has not paused breast cancer. 

Fear of contracting the novel, and potentially deadly, coronavirus has not only prompted many to “social distancing” from one another but has also led some to postpone or cancel their routine and essential medical visits. As we have come to learn over the course of this pandemic, the Coronavirus disease is an infectious disease that is caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. This virus can be easily spread via respiratory droplets from the sudden cough or sneeze of an infected person, which can be rapidly inhaled or enter through the nose, mouth, and/or eyes of another person situated within six feet (World Health Organization). As the hospitals’ emergency rooms found themselves overflown with severely ill COVID-19 patients, amid the scarcity of personal protective equipment, hospital beds, blood supply, respirators, and staff time, the utilization of medical resources was urgently limited to combat this outbreak. In March 2020, the CDC recommended a delay in elective care, including surgeries, screenings, and other treatments that are not considered emergencies in an effort to save resources and reduce the risk of people becoming infected during their hospital visits (DePolo). Among these procedures, breast cancer screening tests and treatments were vastly disrupted, delaying the diagnosis of many women and increasing their risk of developing a worse outcome.

Typically, women 40 and older are recommended to get a mammogram yearly, especially those with a family history of breast cancer. Conducting proper breast self-exams is also encouraged as it can help diagnose breast cancer before it spreads to other parts of the body. Some warning signs for breast cancer includes the formation of lumps, redness around the nipple area, nipple retraction, new dimpling of the skin, and/or pain in the breast (NYC Health and Hospitals). Women who experience these symptoms should seek to get a screening test for breast cancer. However, a survey from researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital conducted from May to July 2020 revealed that 22% of women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer had a delay in screening due to the pandemic (DePolo). This is a concerning public health problem because cancer is the second leading cause of death among women. For this reason, delays in mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRIs used to screen and surveillance breast cancer can lead to worsening breast cancer survival rates. 

Additionally, a recent cross-sectional study that investigated the impact COVID-19 had in the diagnosis of six different types of cancers in the United States revealed a significant decline in breast cancer diagnosis of about 51.8% from March 1 to April 18 (Kaufman et al.). Another peer-reviewed article also foreshadowed a potential increase of more than 33,800 extra cancer deaths in the United States due to the lack of preventative screening and early diagnosis (Lai et al.). Therefore, the delay in breast cancer detection is projected to lead many patients to miss the window for early diagnosis and treatment, which is known to be an important factor for better survival outcomes. 

Nevertheless, now that medical experts and the community that surrounds them have learned to adapt to the “new normal” imposed by the pandemic, doctors are urging patients to make an appointment and get their breast cancer screening. Hospitals and other medical facilities have created new strategies and policies that have enabled them to deliver quality care while also protecting their patients from COVID-19. These medical facilities have reinvented their waiting rooms so that patients can be seated socially distant, extensive cleaning and disinfecting protocols have been put in place, as well as universal masking, frequent hand washing, symptom checks, and temperature control upon arrival are some of the strategies that have been adopted to keep patients safe. Also, telehealth has enabled medical appointments to take place via the phone or online video, amplifying the accessibility of patients to get in touch with necessary medical services from the comfort of their homes. Patients can also do their part by properly wearing a mask at all times and using hand sanitizers or washing their hands during and after their medical visits. Additionally, eating healthy foods, maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise, and abstaining from smoking and excess alcohol use can also help reduce the risk for breast cancer. 

Therefore, do not risk your health by postponing medical care. If you are overdue for a breast cancer screening, make sure to make an appointment soon with your doctor! 

References:

BCRF. “Breast Cancer Screening and COVID-19: What Patients Need to Know Now.” Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 2 Oct. 2020, www.bcrf.org/covid-19-mammogram-breast-cancer-screening. 

Breast Health. www.nychealthandhospitals.org/services/breast-health/. 

“Coronavirus.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus.

DePolo, Jamie. COVID-19 Pandemic Delayed Breast Cancer Screening in Many Parts of the United States. 30 July 2020, www.breastcancer.org/research-news/covid-19-delayed-screening-in-us. 

Drillinger, Meagan. Why It's Important to Get Your Brest Cancer Screening, Even in a Pandemic. 19 Oct. 2020, www.healthline.com/health-news/why-its-important-to-get-your-breast-cancer-screening-even-in-a-pandemic. 

Kaufman, Harvey W., et al. “Changes in the Number of US Patients With Newly Identified Cancer Before and During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.” JAMA Network Open, vol. 3, no. 8, 2020, doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.17267. 

Lai,  Alvina G., et al. Estimating excess mortality in people with cancer and multimorbidity in the COVID-19 emergency. medRxiv. Preprint posted online June 1, 2020. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.34254.82242

Uscher, Jen. “Breast Cancer Screening and COVID-19: What Patients Need to Know Now.” Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 2 Oct. 2020, www.bcrf.org/covid-19-mammogram-breast-cancer-screening.