Modifications in Breast Cancer Guidelines in COVID-19 Pandemic; An Iranian Consensus

Farhad Shahi (1), Mehrzad Mirzania (2), Mahdi Aghili (3), Mohammadreza Dabiri (4), Sharareh Seifi (5), Alireza Bary (6), Nafiseh Ansarinejad (7), Alireza Rezvani (8), Soroush Rad (9), Amirali Shahi (10), Ahmad Elahi (11), Ahmad Kaviani (12)
(1) Breast Disease Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Iran, Islamic Republic of,
(2) Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Iran, Islamic Republic of,
(3) Radiation Oncology Research Center ,Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Iran, Islamic Republic of,
(4) Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Iran, Islamic Republic of,
(5) Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Iran, Islamic Republic of,
(6) Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran, Iran, Islamic Republic of,
(7) Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Iran, Islamic Republic of,
(8) Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Shiraz University of Medical Sience, Shiraz, Fars, Iran AND Hematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sience, Shiraz, Fars, Iran, Iran, Islamic Republic of,
(9) Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Hematology, Oncology, and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transportation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Iran, Islamic Republic of,
(10) Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada, Iran, Islamic Republic of,
(11) Department of Surgery, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Alborz, Iran, Iran, Islamic Republic of,
(12) Breast Disease Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Surgery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada, Iran, Islamic Republic of

Abstract

Background: In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel COVID-19 infection a pandemic. Among high-risk patients infected by the virus, breast cancer patients are vulnerable to present more severe infections. Iran is among the countries with a high incidence of COVID-19 , and most of the routine activities of medical centers are affected by the epidemic disease. Thus, there is a need to make some modifications to international protocols for dealing with breast cancer in the affected countries.


Methods: The headings of breast cancer management protocols have been discussed among the university-affiliated professors in different disciplines involved in breast cancer management. The discussions were done through a “WhatsApp” group considering the tiles and the latest news about COVID-19. Under each title, we provide the consensus of all members in the related disciplines.


Recommendations and Conclusion: In each specialty, all members agreed to choose minimal intervention. The modifications aim to reduce the workload of the medical centers as well as to provide the least interface of the patients with the medical centers. The members know that some recommendations may interfere with the routine best-practice recommendations and decrease the quality measures in the patient's outcome. Therefore, these recommendations are valid just in epidemic COVID-19 situation in the country.

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Authors

Farhad Shahi
Mehrzad Mirzania
Mahdi Aghili
Mohammadreza Dabiri
Sharareh Seifi
Alireza Bary
Nafiseh Ansarinejad
Alireza Rezvani
Soroush Rad
Amirali Shahi
Ahmad Elahi
Ahmad Kaviani
akaviani@archbreastcancer.com (Primary Contact)
1.
Shahi F, Mirzania M, Aghili M, Dabiri M, Seifi S, Bary A, Ansarinejad N, Rezvani A, Rad S, Shahi A, Elahi A, Kaviani A. Modifications in Breast Cancer Guidelines in COVID-19 Pandemic; An Iranian Consensus. Arch Breast Cancer [Internet]. 2020 Mar. 22 [cited 2024 Nov. 5];:14-21. Available from: https://archbreastcancer.com/index.php/abc/article/view/280

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