Breast cancer and care during the COVID-19 pandemic: Review and implications

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions in the care of breast cancer patients, affecting diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Restrictions on medical visits and diagnostic tests led to delays in diagnosis and detection of early stages of disease. Oncologists adapted to limited resources by modifying treatment regimens, postponing non-urgent procedures, and prioritizing high-risk patients. Surgical management underwent significant changes, with postponements and new safety protocols to limit exposure to SARS-CoV-2. An increase in advanced stages was recorded during the first year of the pandemic, along with a need for more adjuvant therapy. At the same time, the use of health services was restricted, affecting patients' mental and physical health with increased levels of anxiety and reduced quality of life. Telemedicine and alternative forms of monitoring have highlighted new possibilities for ensuring continuity of care, limiting physical presence in hospitals. These experiences underscore the need for flexible, person-centered models of care that combine medical, psychosocial, and cultural dimensions, providing lessons for future crises in oncology care.