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CC BY 4.0 · Brazilian Journal of Oncology 2025; 21: s00451809931
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1809931
Original Article
Clinical Oncology

Analysis of the Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on the Stage and Access to Oncology Services in Brazil for the Treatment of Rectal Cancer

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Abstract

Introduction

Cancer is a major social, public health, and economic challenge worldwide, accounting for 1 in 6 deaths globally, according to Globocan 2022. Since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been a noticeable impact on the provision of services to oncology patients. The present study aimed to analyze the effect of the pandemic on access to healthcare services and disease staging at a specialized oncology hospital located in the state of São Paulo.

Materials and Methods

Demographic, clinical, and access data were extracted from 3 electronic information systems, comparing 3 periods: prepandemic (2018–2019), pandemic (2020–2021), and postrestriction easing (2022 to June 2023). The results showed progression in the clinical stage of patients referred to for treatment from the pandemic period onwards. In the prepandemic period, approximately 9.4% of patients presented at clinical stage IV. During the pandemic, this percentage increased to 15.4%, and in the postrestriction easing period, it reached 17.8%.

Conclusion

Although access to effective oncological treatment was improved during the pandemic, there was a noticeable progression in the clinical stage of the disease, which persisted after the easing of restrictions.

Keywords

rectal neoplasm - access to health services - COVID-19 - staging - neoplasm - acess to health services

Authors' Contributions

GCS: collection and assembly of data, data analysis and interpretation, manuscript writing, conception and design, final approval of the manuscript, provision of study materials or patient involvement; RVML: collection and assembly of data, data analysis and interpretation; EFDL: collection and assembly of data, provision of study materials or patient involvement; HMDN: manuscript writing, conception and design, final approval of the manuscript; PHSH: manuscript writing, final approval of the manuscript.




Publication History

Received: 08 November 2024

Accepted: 04 May 2025

Article published online:
19 September 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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Bibliographical Record
Guilherme da Costa Souza, Rossana Verónica Mendoza López, Pedro Henrique Shimiti Hashizume, Edia Filomena Di Tullio Lopes, Hillegonda Maria Dutilh Novaes. Analysis of the Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on the Stage and Access to Oncology Services in Brazil for the Treatment of Rectal Cancer. Brazilian Journal of Oncology 2025; 21: s00451809931.
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1809931
 

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