Good news : According to a recent study by the Institut Curie, Covid-19 (the disease caused by coronavirus infection) is not more frequent or more serious in women suffering from breast cancer.
Thus, out of the 15,000 patients currently treated at the Institut Curie (Paris and Saint-Cloud), only 59 were diagnosed with “Covid-19” – which corresponds to the estimated frequency in the French population (0.2% to 0.4%).
On the mortality side, the figures are also reassuring: among patients treated for breast cancer and diagnosed with “Covid-19”, 4 deaths have been recorded. But according to experts from Institut Curie, “prior comorbidities (old age, diabetes, immune system disorders, etc.) can alone explain these deaths“.
Breast cancer: how are treatments going during the epidemic?
“Despite thecoronavirus epidemic, breast cancer care continues, of course!“says Dr. Paul Cottu, medical oncologist. At Institut Curie, more than 90% of treatments were maintained:”patients are assessed at the entrance to the hospital using a clinical interview and a temperature measurement: in the event of a suspicion of Covid-19, we have set up a specific course of care. which does not prevent normal consultation with his doctor.“
The coronavirus epidemic has nevertheless had an impact on the management of breast cancer: “What must be understood is that in oncology, there are very few real emergencies: treatment can often be postponed by 8-15 days“adds Dr. Cottu. Thus, if the radiotherapy treatments continue (“we have not stopped radiotherapy in all women with Covid-19“specifies the doctor), chemotherapy treatments were postponed when it was deemed necessary and possible – as a precautionary principle.
“In addition, to limit patient travel, home care has been strengthened., explains Dr. Cottu. It is, for example, possible to do chemotherapy at home, even intravenously. And part of the oncology consultations are now done by teleconsultation.“
What about the surgery? Non-urgent plastic surgery operations (breast reconstruction, for example) have been temporarily suspended. Non-urgent breast surgeries (concerning very minor cancers) have also been postponed by a few weeks. For the other surgeries, the operations are maintained: the patient is admitted to the hospital on an outpatient basis (she does not sleep in the hospital). “We consider that we do not put patients at risk by operating them: we would rather run a higher risk than Covid-19 if we did not operate on them.“, notes Dr. Cottu.
I have breast cancer, how can I protect myself against the coronavirus?
“Protective measures for breast cancer are the same as for the rest of the population: wash your hands regularly with soap or hydroalcoholic gel, wear a mask, maintain sufficient social distance and respect barrier gestures“recalls Dr. Cottu.
The most important ? Continue your treatments … and get tested quickly if you are suspicious. “For women currently showing possible signs of breast cancer, it is important to consult and not to delay treatment: not diagnosing or treating according to recommendations breast cancer could be more dangerous for their health than Covid -19“, emphasizes Dr. Paul Cottu.
Breast cancer: the signs that should alert. Even before the age of 40, in the event of: “lump” (similar to a “lump”) in the breast or in the armpit, painful or not, change in color and / or shape of the nipple, discharge from the breast level, It is essential to quickly make an appointment with your doctor. Because during the coronavirus epidemic, breast cancer does not take a vacation …
Thanks to Dr. Paul Cottu, medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer and deputy head of the Department of Medical Oncology at theCurie Institute.
To discover, listen in podcast lDr. Paul Cottu, on patient care in the context of the epidemic.
Read also :
Coronavirus (Covid-19) treatment: who are the candidates?
Coronavirus and cancer: advice and precautions during treatment
Symptoms of the coronavirus: duration and contagion
