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Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 3/2020

Open Access 01-06-2020 | Triage | Editorial

Recommendations for prioritization, treatment, and triage of breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. the COVID-19 pandemic breast cancer consortium

Authors: Jill R. Dietz, Meena S. Moran, Steven J. Isakoff, Scott H. Kurtzman, Shawna C. Willey, Harold J. Burstein, Richard J. Bleicher, Janice A. Lyons, Terry Sarantou, Paul L. Baron, Randy E. Stevens, Susan K. Boolbol, Benjamin O. Anderson, Lawrence N. Shulman, William J. Gradishar, Debra L. Monticciolo, Donna M. Plecha, Heidi Nelson, Katharine A. Yao

Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment | Issue 3/2020

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic presents clinicians a unique set of challenges in managing breast cancer (BC) patients. As hospital resources and staff become more limited during the COVID-19 pandemic, it becomes critically important to define which BC patients require more urgent care and which patients can wait for treatment until the pandemic is over. In this Special Communication, we use expert opinion of representatives from multiple cancer care organizations to categorize BC patients into priority levels (A, B, C) for urgency of care across all specialties. Additionally, we provide treatment recommendations for each of these patient scenarios. Priority A patients have conditions that are immediately life threatening or symptomatic requiring urgent treatment. Priority B patients have conditions that do not require immediate treatment but should start treatment before the pandemic is over. Priority C patients have conditions that can be safely deferred until the pandemic is over. The implementation of these recommendations for patient triage, which are based on the highest level available evidence, must be adapted to current availability of hospital resources and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic in each region of the country. Additionally, the risk of disease progression and worse outcomes for patients need to be weighed against the risk of patient and staff exposure to SARS CoV-2 (virus associated with the COVID-19 pandemic). Physicians should use these recommendations to prioritize care for their BC patients and adapt treatment recommendations to the local context at their hospital.
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Metadata
Title
Recommendations for prioritization, treatment, and triage of breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. the COVID-19 pandemic breast cancer consortium
Authors
Jill R. Dietz
Meena S. Moran
Steven J. Isakoff
Scott H. Kurtzman
Shawna C. Willey
Harold J. Burstein
Richard J. Bleicher
Janice A. Lyons
Terry Sarantou
Paul L. Baron
Randy E. Stevens
Susan K. Boolbol
Benjamin O. Anderson
Lawrence N. Shulman
William J. Gradishar
Debra L. Monticciolo
Donna M. Plecha
Heidi Nelson
Katharine A. Yao
Publication date
01-06-2020
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment / Issue 3/2020
Print ISSN: 0167-6806
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7217
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-020-05644-z

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