Suggestion of Tunisia's medical oncologist in the management of breast cancer during COVID-19 pandemic

J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2020 Oct;26(7):1732-1734. doi: 10.1177/1078155220948943. Epub 2020 Aug 13.

Abstract

Cancer patients are at higher risk to be infected with COVID-19 and to develop a more severe form. Breast cancer (BC) treatments, including chemotherapy (CT), targeted therapy and immunotherapy can weaken the immune system and possibly cause lung problems. For all these reasons Salah Azaiez Institute's department of Medical Oncology took drastic actions to protect patients. In this article we will discuss protocol adjustments taken during the COVID-19 pandemic for breast cancer patients.

Keywords: COVID-19; Tunisia; breast cancer; chemotherapy; medical oncology.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Protocols*
  • Betacoronavirus
  • Breast Neoplasms* / epidemiology
  • Breast Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms* / therapy
  • COVID-19
  • Communicable Disease Control* / methods
  • Communicable Disease Control* / organization & administration
  • Coronavirus Infections* / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections* / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Medical Oncology / trends*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Organizational Innovation
  • Pandemics* / prevention & control
  • Patient Care Management* / methods
  • Patient Care Management* / organization & administration
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / prevention & control
  • Risk Adjustment / methods
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Telemedicine / methods
  • Tunisia / epidemiology