Extremely Advanced Breast Cancer Presentation: Possible Effect of Coronavirus Pandemic Anxiety.

Vanni, Gianluca; Santori, Francesca; Pellicciaro, Marco; Materazzo, Marco; Caspi, Jonathan; Granai, Alessandra Vittoria; DE Majo, Adriano; Servadei, Francesca; Giacobbi, Erica; Perretta, Tommaso; Meucci, Rosaria; Pistolese, Chiara Adriana; Buonomo, Oreste Claudio

BACKGROUND/AIM Corona virus infection dramatically spread worldwide during 2020 and extraordinary restrictions have been implemented in order to reduce viral transmission. These measures compelled a complete restructuring of the health system, including temporary cancer screening suspension and a significant slow-down in cancer diagnoses and treatments. CASE REPORT We report five cases of extremely advanced breast cancer referred to our Department amid the COVID-19 pandemic. These patients exhibited a poor prognosis or worse quality of life due to their oncological disease. CONCLUSION In our opinion, both the slow-down of diagnosis and treatment of oncological disease and anxiety over COVID-19 influenced this presentation. Moreover, other patients were unable to receive palliative care. Hopefully, these cases will not develop into extremely advanced-stage disease, and we will be able to provide at least the necessary palliative care.