Standardize the management procedures for breast cancer patients during the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2020 Aug;183(1):213-216. doi: 10.1007/s10549-020-05743-x. Epub 2020 Jun 27.

Abstract

Purpose: The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to interruption or delay in treatment of breast cancer patient. This commentary aims to standardize the management procedures and ensure complete or relatively complete treatment for breast cancer patients during the outbreak of COVID-19.

Methods: Provide detailed online diagnosis, online treatment recommendations, and face-to-face consultation suggestions.

Results: Breast cancer patients who are at high risk of COVID-19 are advised to consult online first. For patients who have undergone online consultation and need face-to-face consultation, try to go to the clinic alone and take necessary precautions. Medical staff should be provided with necessary training about severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing and knowledge of standard precautions and personal protective equipment.

Conclusions: This commentary focused on breast cancer patients and provided suggestions to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Some of these suggestions are also suitable for cancer patients in other lesions. We hope our suggestions are useful to oncologists in other countries and help them to overcome this challenge.

Keywords: Breast cancer; COVID-19; Cancer therapy; New coronavirus pneumonia; SARS-CoV-2.

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus* / isolation & purification
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / virology
  • COVID-19
  • China / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Coronavirus Infections / transmission
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / standards*
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • Patient Care / standards*
  • Patient Education as Topic / methods*
  • Personal Protective Equipment / supply & distribution
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / transmission
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic / standards*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Telemedicine / methods*