There have been significant delays in breast cancer (BC) treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic yet the experience and perspective of breast surgeons on the diagnosis and treatment of BC is yet to be explored. This study will support the identification of research priorities and development of mitigating strategies for future pandemics.

 

One-on-one qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with breast surgeons in Ontario, exploring the impact of the pandemic on BC treatment, psychosocial well-being, and the future state of BC care. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded thematically. Transcripts were iteratively coded using a grounded theory approach to guide identification of significant themes.

 

Thematic analysis revealed 5 major themes: inter/intradisciplinary collaboration, surgical innovation and creativity, location and surgeon role-based variability in experiences, significant psychosocial impacts on practitioners and patients, and inequities across patient groups for cancer screening and care. For future impacts, surgeons discussed significant ongoing delays, adopting a hybrid model of virtual care, and continuing use of medical interventions that were adopted during the pandemic due to restrictions and resources allocation.

 

Breast surgeons’ perceived opportunities and concern for worsening disparities adds to the growing literature on cancer care and the COVID-19 pandemic.