Breast cancer is the second most common in the world and the most common among
women. Early diagnosis and treatment estimate a good prognosis for the disease. After
the pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO), States had to adopt
restrictive measures to contain the spread of the disease. Brazil was one of the four
countries with the highest number of confirmed Covid-19 infections, with high
transmissibility rates causing a collapse in health services. As a result, the maintenance
and regular treatment of several diseases, including breast cancer, were affected.
Objective: to analyze whether the Covid-19 pandemic affected the screening, diagnosis
and treatment of breast cancer, in women aged 50 and over, in the State of Pará. Method:
The study was retrospective, cross-sectional, with a quantitative approach, using
secondary data obtained from the Information Technology Department of the Unified
Health System (DATASUS). An analysis was carried out of the number of exams carried
out in the post-pandemic (2018-2019) and pandemic (2020-2021) period based on the
percentage variation, and application of the chi-square test and G test for the time taken
to perform exams and time to start treatment. Results: During the pandemic period, a
greater number of screening mammograms (+3.68%), cytological (+23.68%),
histological (+10.7%) and a lower number of diagnostic mammograms (-38.7%) were
observed %). The time interval for carrying out the exams was up to 30 days for screening
and diagnostic exams during the pandemic period. The observed time to start treatment
was greater than 60 days, with a greater number of cases treated during the pandemic
period. Conclusion: the study points out that statistically the Covid-19 pandemic did not
interfere with the screening, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, in women over 50
years old, in the State of Pará. The effects of Covid-19 will only possibly be observed at
long-term, therefore, studies should be carried out that permeate the development of
strategies that prepare health services for a future state of health emergency, to mitigate
greater impacts on the health of the population.
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