Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on a Cancer Fast-Track Programme.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted oncology clinical practices, raising concerns about delayed cancer diagnosis and advanced-stage detection.
• A cancer fast-track program (CFP) was established in 2009 to expedite cancer diagnosis and treatment initiation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operational efficiency and outcomes of a cancer fast-track program.
• To assess if the pandemic altered patient referral patterns, diagnostic timelines, or stage at diagnosis within the CFP.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the CFP workflow, including patient numbers and timeframes, from March 16, 2020, to March 15, 2021.
• Comparison of pandemic-year data with data from the preceding year (2019).

Main Results:

• Despite pandemic-related disruptions, the CFP processed 975 suspected cancer cases, with overall referrals slightly higher than in previous years.
• Confirmed cancer diagnoses occurred in 197 patients (24.1%), with urological, breast, gastrointestinal, and lung cancers being most common.
• Median times from referral to specialist appointment (13 days) and diagnosis (18 days) remained consistent with pre-pandemic levels, with treatment initiated around 30 days post-diagnosis.
• Cancer stage at diagnosis (61% early, 20% locally advanced, 19% advanced) showed proportions similar to pre-pandemic years.

Conclusions:

• The cancer fast-track program successfully maintained its workflow and efficacy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The CFP demonstrated its reliability as a vital tool supporting primary care physicians in referring suspected cancer patients during challenging times.