The reliability of breast cancer surgery in a regional pandemic hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic: Delay or Do?

Turan, Umit; Kaan Sanal, Ali; Irkorucu, Oktay

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of COVID-19 infection on the morbidity and mortality rates of breast cancer patients performed in the East Mediterranean region of Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic and to share the results of those investigations. METHODS This retrospective study included all breast cancer patients that underwent surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in the General Surgery Clinic of Adana City Training and Research Hospital, a regional pandemic hospital, between March 11, 2020 and December 25, 2020. The patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively (the first 30 days) in terms of COVID-19 infection. Moreover, these patients were also evaluated in terms of admission to the hospital, length of hospital stay, and mortality due to COVID-19 infection during the follow-up period of the study. RESULTS Included in the study were 139 patients that underwent surgery for breast cancer during the pandemic period, with no observed mortality or morbidity associated with COVID-19 in any patient postoperatively within the first 30 days. In addition, within 121.22±70.05 days, the mean and standard deviation of the study's follow-up period, 19 patients (15.7%) were admitted to the hospital with a suspected COVID-19 infection (after the first 30 days postoperatively) and 6 of them (4.3%) returned a positive PCR test. All of the COVID-19 positive patients (6 patients, 4.3%) were hospitalised and 3 of them (2.2%) died due to the COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSION Breast cancer surgery can be performed safely during the COVID-19 pandemic period after taking the necessary precautions.