GEICAM Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Breast Cancer During the COVID‐19 Pandemic in Spain

• Published in: The oncologist (Dayton, Ohio) Vol. 25; no. 9; pp. e1339 - e1345
• Main Authors: Martin, Miguel, Guerrero‐Zotano, Angel, Montero, Ángel, Jara, Carlos, Filipovich, Elena, Rojo, Federico, Moreno, Fernando, García‐Sáenz, Jose Ángel, Alés, Jose Enrique, Chacón, José Ignacio, Cruz, Josefina, Gimenez, Julia, Cruz‐Merino, Luis, Algara, Manel, Santisteban, Marta, Tarruella, Sara López
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.09.2020
• Subjects: Breast Cancer; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; Clinical Decision-Making; COVID-19 - diagnosis; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID‐19; Delivery of Health Care - standards; Expert recommendations; Female; Humans; Medical Oncology - organization & administration; Medical Oncology - standards; Pandemic; Patient Admission - standards; SARS-CoV-2 - isolation & purification; SARS‐CoV‐2; Spain - epidemiology; Spain; COVID-19; Pandemic; SARS-CoV-2; Breast cancer; Expert recommendations
• ISSN: 1083-7159; 1549-490X
• DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2020-0363

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women in Spain. During the COVID‐19 pandemic caused by the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus, patients with BC still require timely treatment and follow‐up; however, hospitals are overwhelmed with infected patients and, if exposed, patients with BC are at higher risk for infection and serious complications if infected. Thus, health care providers need to evaluate each BC treatment and in‐hospital visit to minimize pandemic‐associated risks while maintaining adequate treatment efficacy. Here we present a set of guidelines regarding available options for BC patient management and treatment by BC subtype in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Owing to the lack of evidence about COVID‐19 infection, these recommendations are mainly based on expert opinion, medical organizations' and societies' recommendations, and some published evidence. We consider this a useful tool to facilitate medical decision making in this health crisis situation we are facing. Implications for Practice This work presents a set of guidelines regarding available options for breast cancer (BC) patient management and treatment by BC subtype in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Owing to the suddenness of this health crisis, specialists have to make decisions with little evidence at hand. Thus, these expert guidelines may be a useful tool to facilitate medical decision making in the context of a worldwide pandemic with no resources to spare. Guidelines for breast cancer patient management in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic are suggested, which may help clinicians and patients to facilitate medical decision making.