The impact of the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer diagnoses: a population-based study in England

This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer diagnostic services using publicly available data sources (Cancer Waiting Time data / NHSBSP annual report / COVID-19 Rapid Cancer Registration and Treatment Data / COVID-19 Cancer Equity data packs). The overall number of referrals was 9% lower in 2020/21 and 9% higher in 2021/22 when compared to 2019/20 (pre-pandemic). However, the proportion of patients referred urgently was higher during 2020/21 than 2019/20 (10,000 fewer urgent referral s and 48,000 fewer routine referrals in 2020/21 compared to 2019/20). The cancer conversion rate remained similar (5.5% in 2019/20 and 5.7% in 2020/21 for urgent referrals / 1.3% in both time periods for routine referrals). In 2019/20, the number of first treatment for breast cancer was 49,050. This number was 23% lower in 2020/21 and 2% higher in 2021/22. For patients aged 50-69 years, 26% fall in new diagnosis was seen in 2020/21 with 8% increase in 2021/22 (when compared to 2019/20). The data suggests that there may be around 10,300 ‘missing’ women with breast cancer since the start of the pandemic.

Classifications: Screening & Diagnosis

Keywords: Symptomatic COVID-19