P088. Pattern of breast cancer presentation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the study was to explore the hypothesis that the stage of presentation at initial diagnosis in 2020 is more advanced compared to 2019. Methods: New breast cancer diagnoses at the Bucks Breast Unit from August-October 2019 and August-October 2020 were reviewed. Electronic records were used to extract the TNM classification and UICC combined stage. Patients with incomplete staging information were excluded. Pathological stage was used if available from primary surgery and clinical stage otherwise. Non-parametric statistical tests were performed and p-values <0.05 were considered significant. Results: 250 patients had a new breast cancer diagnosis in August-October 2019 or 2020. 12 patients were excluded due to missing data. 238 were analysed, 136 in 2019 and 102 in 2020. In 2019, 52 (41.9%) were detected through screening and 79 (58.1%) referred for symptoms compared to 15 (14.7%) through screening and 87 (85.3%) symptomatic in 2020. Median UICC stage was 1a in 2019 and 2a in 2020, (p<0.01). Median UICC stage when only comparing diagnoses through screening was 1a in 2019 and 2a in 2020 (p=0.23) and for symptomatic referrals was 1a in 2019 and 2a in 2020 (p=0.02). Conclusions: Overall, patients presented with higher UICC stages on initial diagnosis in 2020 compared to 2019. When only comparing symptomatic patients, they presented with a higher stage in 2020. The number of cases detected via screening was smaller, but no statistically significant difference was found in this subgroup.