Effect of Covid-19 pandemic on the progression of bladder cancer patients

Abstract

The aim of this study was to discuss the progression results of patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who delayed their treatment by not making hospital visits on time for fear of contamination during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: Records of patients diagnosed with MIBC and recommended radical cystectomy (RC) between March 2020 and June 2020 were reviewed. Whether patients were operated on the scheduled time, and if not, the time elapsed after the first diagnosis or the end of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) were recorded. The patients who applied to our clinic late were restaged and examined whether there was any progression during the pandemic period. Results: NAC was recommended before RC in 9 of 24 patients, RC was recommended directly to the remaining 15 patients. After NAC, RC was applied to four patients in the planned period, and 4 patients applied delayed. The mean admission period of the patients who applied late after NAC was 197.8±68.5 days. Lung metastases and pelvic lymphadenopathies were found in two (50%). RC was applied to eight of fifteen patients who did not receive NAC in the planned period. Five of these patients applied for RC in the late period and the average application time after diagnosis was 202.8±31.9 days. In the staging of these five patients who presented late, two (40%) had progression (cT2, N0,M1b). Conclusion:In times of widespread COVID-19 outbreak, physicians should be alert to potential stage progression and worse survival outcomes resulting from delays in diagnosis and treatment.