«Breast cancer has had less impact due to covid than other oncological pathologies»

The oncology research group Solti is holding an online scientific meeting this Tuesday in which new diagnostic techniques and treatments for breast cancer in early stages in hospitals will be shared. Dr. Raquel Andrés, oncologist at the Lozano Blesa Clinic in Zaragoza, who coordinates the event together with Dr. Joaquín Gavilá, clinical head of the Medical Oncology Service of the Valencian Institute of Oncology (IVO), affirms that this disease has been less affected by the covid pandemic than other oncological pathologies, although he recognizes that patients "have faced great isolation" during this health crisis, especially in the first wave.

During 2020, 8.591 new cases of cancer have been diagnosed in Aragon, of which 981 are breast cancer, according to the Spanish Association against Cancer in Aragon. By type of cancer, according to AECC data, colorectal cancer continues to lead, with 1.201 new cases, followed by prostate cancer (1.001). Below is the breast one. It is the type of cancer, notes Dr. Andrés, "with the highest incidence and prevalence in women."

The Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) estimates that last year one in five cases of cancer in Spain was undiagnosed last spring due to the health saturation caused by Covid. "The pandemic - according to Raquel Andrés - decreased the number of confirmed cases compared to previous years, especially in March and April, and, from that date on, those who were diagnosed were more advanced because they had not been able to benefit from a early diagnostic". There was a delay in diagnoses, some treatments were suspended and therapeutic guidelines were modified, "but the situation that cancer patients have suffered the most has been isolation." However, she clarifies, "in breast cancer, possibly the impact has been less than in other oncological pathologies" because, among other reasons, she says, "the prevention program was not stopped in an important way." And furthermore, this type of surgery does not require a stay in the ICU: "Thanks to this, there was little decrease in that period. Except in March and April, I think the care has been the same as in the pre-covid era. In fact, the diagnoses have not varied compared to other times". At the Clinic, about 200 new cases of breast cancer are confirmed each year: "We have been working normally since May."

For Dr. Andrés, "in general, cancer patients have suffered from having to be isolated from family and friends" because "from a psychological point of view they need to be very accompanied." At first, she says, in-person and telematic visits alternated. He also remembers that a system for dispensing medication at home was launched from the Clinical Hospital, which was organized by the Pharmacy service, "which had great collaboration, so that no one had their treatment interrupted and there was continuity." .