Abstract：
Background: This study aimed to explore the hypothesis that the stage of breast cancer at initial diagnosis in 2020 is more advanced compared with 2019. Methods: Tumor, node, metastasis and Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stages of new breast cancer diagnoses at the Bucks Breast Unit from May 2019 to October 2020 were reviewed. A p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Average UICC stage increased from 1a in 2019 to 2a in 2020 (p < 0.01). Excluding cancers detected through screening, UICC stage still increased from 1b in 2019 to 2a in 2020 (p = 0.0184). There was a significant increase in the percentage of node-positive patients (p = 0.0063) and patients with metastatic disease (p = 0.0295) on initial presentation. Conclusion: Overall, patients presented with higher UICC stages and more node-positive and metastatic disease on initial diagnosis in 2020 compared with 2019.
Plain language summary During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, breast cancer screening services were halted across the UK. Patients were also encouraged to stay home and to seek medical attention only in an emergency. The authors hypothesized that this might have led to delays in presentation to breast cancer clinics or missed cancer diagnoses. While patients are at home with undiagnosed breast cancer, the cancer can grow and spread. The authors evaluated whether these delays in presentation led to patients presenting with more advanced breast cancers when they finally presented to a breast cancer clinic. The authors collected data on breast cancer stages for a patient group in 2020 (during the height of the pandemic) and compared them with a patient group in 2019. The authors\' results did indeed show that patients presented, on average, with more advanced breast cancers in 2020 compared with 2019.
Plain language summary During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, breast cancer screening services were halted across the UK. Patients were also encouraged to stay home and to seek medical attention only in an emergency. The authors hypothesized that this might have led to delays in presentation to breast cancer clinics or missed cancer diagnoses. While patients are at home with undiagnosed breast cancer, the cancer can grow and spread. The authors evaluated whether these delays in presentation led to patients presenting with more advanced breast cancers when they finally presented to a breast cancer clinic. The authors collected data on breast cancer stages for a patient group in 2020 (during the height of the pandemic) and compared them with a patient group in 2019. The authors\' results did indeed show that patients presented, on average, with more advanced breast cancers in 2020 compared with 2019.
摘要：
背景：这项研究旨在探索以下假设：与2019年相比，2020年初始诊断的乳腺癌阶段更为先进。方法：肿瘤，节点,回顾了2019年5月至2020年10月在雄鹿乳腺部门新诊断乳腺癌的转移和国际癌症控制联盟（UICC）阶段。P<0.05被认为是显著的。结果：平均UICC阶段从2019年的1a增加到2020年的2a（p<0.01）。不包括通过筛查检测到的癌症，UICC阶段仍从2019年的1b增加到2020年的2a（p=0.0184）。淋巴结阳性患者（p=0.0063）和转移性疾病患者（p=0.0295）的百分比显着增加。结论：总体而言，与2019年相比,2020年初次诊断的患者UICC分期较高,淋巴结阳性和转移性疾病较多.
简单的语言摘要在2019年冠状病毒病大流行期间，乳腺癌筛查服务在英国各地停止.还鼓励患者呆在家里，只有在紧急情况下才就医。作者假设这可能导致延迟到乳腺癌诊所就诊或错过癌症诊断。当患者在家中患有未确诊的乳腺癌时，癌症可以生长和扩散。作者评估了这些延迟的出现是否会导致患者出现更晚期的乳腺癌，当他们最终出现在乳腺癌诊所时。作者收集了2020年（大流行期间）患者组的乳腺癌分期数据，并将其与2019年的患者组进行了比较。作者的结果确实表明，患者提出，平均而言,与2019年相比，2020年乳腺癌更晚期。
简单的语言摘要在2019年冠状病毒病大流行期间，乳腺癌筛查服务在英国各地停止.还鼓励患者呆在家里，只有在紧急情况下才就医。作者假设这可能导致延迟到乳腺癌诊所就诊或错过癌症诊断。当患者在家中患有未确诊的乳腺癌时，癌症可以生长和扩散。作者评估了这些延迟的出现是否会导致患者出现更晚期的乳腺癌，当他们最终出现在乳腺癌诊所时。作者收集了2020年（大流行期间）患者组的乳腺癌分期数据，并将其与2019年的患者组进行了比较。作者的结果确实表明，患者提出，平均而言,与2019年相比，2020年乳腺癌更晚期。
