Dados do Trabalho

Título

IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON WOMENS CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM

Introdução

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to an unprecedented upheaval within global healthcare systems and resulted in the temporary pausing of the health system all over the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has especially impacted womens screening programs globaly. Screening programmes for cervical cancer and breast cancer in most of the developing countries already struggled and the pandemic made everyhing worse. The present study evaluated the registry of screening tests in a city located in southeast of Brazil.

Objetivo

: Assess the number of mammograms and cytologic cervical tests before the pandemic and during the first year of the pandemic. Evaluate the impact of the pandemic on screening rates.

Método

Historical observational study on data from a population-based cervical cancer screening registry of the city of Cahcoeiro de Itapemirim using the SISCAN(Brazilian Cancer Registry System). We evaluated the number of mammograms and cervical cytopathology tests performed from January 1st and December 31th 2019 and compared the same period of 2020.

Resultado

During the the year of 2019 the registry system computed for cervical cancer screening there where 33 982 pap smear tests performed with a median of 2831 exams a month . Regarding breast cancer during 2019 the registry system computed 11448 mammograms with a median 954 exams a month. During the first year of pandemic in 2020 the same registry system computed 15004 pap smear tests wtih the median of 1250 exams a month and 4139 mammograms with the median of 344 exams a month.

Conclusão

The pandemic has deeply affected all levels of our lives. The womens cancer screening programs where deeply affected and inequalities have emerged and require action. To prevent long-term increases in the cervical cancer and breast cancer burden due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is fundamental that organised screening in the developing countries be encouraged.

Palavras-chave

cancer, screening, pandemic

Área

Oncologia - Prevenção, rastreamento e diagnóstico