COVID-19 effects on breast cancer patients: Symptom presentation and critical intervals in a Malaysian hospital
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is distressing especially in countries where resources are thin. In Malaysia, there is concern over its effects on the wellbeing of non-COVID patients. We compare critical intervals between pre-pandemic and pandemic breast cancer patients. Methods: Thi...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
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AME Publishing Company
2022
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.um.edu.my/44142/ https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85168952481&doi=10.21037%2fjphe-22-21&partnerID=40&md5=31ec657db251ef6b5904d7ef5276af57 |
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| Summary: | Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is distressing especially in countries where resources are thin. In Malaysia, there is concern over its effects on the wellbeing of non-COVID patients. We compare critical intervals between pre-pandemic and pandemic breast cancer patients. Methods: This cohort study involved 100 patients, 50 diagnosed pre-pandemic and 50 diagnosed during the pandemic. Symptoms were categorized into three (breast lump, non-breast lump and non-breast symptoms). Presentation interval was the time from symptoms to first presentation at a clinic. Diagnosis interval was the time from first presentation to diagnosis, and treatment interval was the time from diagnosis to initial treatment. Results: Mean times for presentation, diagnosis and treatment intervals in the pre-pandemic group were 14.48 months, 10.94 days, and 21.18 days, respectively. The pandemic group recorded 34.64 months, 17.14 days, and 17.14 days, respectively. Three main presenting symptoms in pre-pandemic and pandemic groups were breast lumps (92 and 98), followed by non-lump breast symptoms (14 and 30) and non-breast symptoms (2 and 6). Conclusions: The extended presentation and diagnosis intervals may be a result of movement restrictions during the outbreak. Screening should not be neglected. The pandemic should not set us back but aids us in a global reset. © 2022 Optica Publishing Group under the terms of the Optica Open Access Publishing Agreement. |
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