Management policies of breast cancer surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy during COVID-19 outbreak in Iran

• Main Authors: H. Mahmoodzadeh, F. Hadjilooei, R. Omranipour, E. Esmati, S. Alipour, F. Shahi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Verduci Editore 2020-07-01
• Series: World Cancer Research Journal
• Subjects: breast cancer; chemotherapy; coronavirus; covid-19; iran; pandemic; radiotherapy; surgery
• Online Access: https://www.wcrj.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/11/e1623.pdf

Objective: Introducing a modified guideline to save medical and human resources during COVID-19, and suggesting modifications to cancer treatment procedures during COVID-19 with the aim of reducing patients’ exposures to medical centers. Materials and Methods: Breast cancer management protocols were discussed among our colleagues in Cancer Institute of Tehran University of Medical Sciences through interactive applications (WhatsApp and Skype). We have provided the consensus of all opinions under relevant headings. Our recommendations will be modified as pandemic severity changes. Results: Surgery is restricted to patients whose survival is likely to be compromised if surgery is not performed. As for systemic therapy, we prefer to prescribe less toxic regimens and choose tri-weekly cycles instead of bi-weekly or weekly ones. In the case of radiotherapy, hypofractionated schedules are preferred schedules. Conclusions: COVID-19 pandemic put cancer patients, physicians, and health care systems in a challenging situation. All our colleagues agreed to choose less invasive and minimal interventions at this time because it is imperative to spare medical resources and workforce, and decrease patients’ contact with medical environments. We know that some of our suggestions may interfere with standard and routine practice, but our recommendations will be changed when COVID-19 pandemic severity changes.