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Covid-19: Instructions for breast cancer patients

Patients with breast cancer in the past who have completed their treatment (Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy) and are not receiving any treatment or are only on Hormone Therapy, are NOT a high-risk group for this specific reason – “cancer patients”

Surgeries postponed until later:

  • treatment of benign disease (atypia, fibroadenoma, discharge-possible papilloma, etc.)
  • breast reconstruction after mastectomy (initial or 2nd phase)
  • prophylactic risk-reducing surgery (bilateral mastectomy)
  • all cosmetic breast surgeries (enlargement, reduction, lift, etc.)

Exceptions: drainage of a breast abscess, postoperative hematoma, necrosis of a recently repaired flap

  • Diagnosis of non-invasive cancer (DCIS) in a core biopsy

  • ER-positive: initial treatment with Hormone Therapy (Tamoxifen or Aromatase Inhibitor)

  • ER-negative: currently monitoring if there is no evidence of invasive disease

  • ER-positive and Low-risk factors: initial treatment with Hormone Therapy (Tamoxifen or Aromatase Inhibitor, in premenopausal patients and ovarian suppression)

  • ER-positive and High-risk factors: initial treatment with Chemotherapy

  • ER/PR/HER2 negative (Triple-negative disease) or HER2 positive: preoperative Chemotherapy

 Exception: early stage disease (small tumor) should be operated on

  • Patients who have completed pre-operative chemotherapy and have a partial or complete response

  • ER – positive tumor: start of hormone therapy and brief reassessment (in 1 month)

  • ER – positive and HER2 positive tumor: anti-HER2 treatment, start of hormone therapy and brief reassessment (in 1 month)

  • EP/PR/HER2 negative (Triple negative disease): should undergo surgery (within a month)

Patients who should undergo surgery immediately:

    • diagnosis of breast angiosarcoma or malignant phyllodes tumor

    • patients receiving pre-operative systemic therapy (Chemotherapy or Hormone Therapy) and disease progression is detected

Patients on chronic follow-up:

    • all scheduled “follow-up” tests are postponed

    • exception: appearance symptomatology of suspected metastasis development

Note: in all of the above, the possible coexistence of other factors that make the patient particularly at high risk in the event of COVID-19 disease should also be assessed, such as: chronic respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, obesity, etc.

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