key: cord-0723450-webhodc1
authors: Hanumanthappa, N.; Goldsmith, C.; Sawyer, E.; Tutt, A.; Castell, F.; Azad, G.; Mullassery, V.; Ahmad, S.; Timbres, J.; Mera, A.; Swampillai, A.; Smith, D.
title: Adjuvant Breast Radiotherapy at an Academic Centre during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Reassuringly Safe
date: 2020-12-24
journal: Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol)
DOI: 10.1016/j.clon.2020.12.013
sha: 7290762c5e53f35b3384b4df949672f27076d9ed
doc_id: 723450
cord_uid: webhodc1

nan

Adjuvant Breast Radiotherapy at an Academic Centre during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Reassuringly Safe Madam d The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has revived fears over safe radiotherapy delivery. To allay concerns, we share our experience of adjuvant breast radiotherapy during the first peak, adopting the Fast Forward regimen of 26 Gy in five daily fractions, a regimen proven safe in a trial of over 4000 patients [1] and consistent with recent Royal College of Radiologists guidance [2] .

Radiotherapy referrals from outpatient clinics dated 1 March to 7 May 2020 inclusive were reviewed. The Fast Forward regimen was increasingly frequently offered to suitable patients during this time and most accepted, although several preferred standard fractionation. In total, 121 patients were subsequently treated (19% fewer than the corresponding period in 2019, reflecting omission for some low-risk patients). Sixty-four patients (53%) Patients underwent weekly asymptomatic COVID-19 swabbing and received appropriate infection control measures if symptomatic or confirmed positive. There were two cases of COVID-19 within this cohort (1.7%) and no hospitalisations. There was no acute toxicity of grade 3 or higher. Treatment extended beyond the recommended duration for only one patient to replan for contour change unrelated to COVID-19.

These results confirm that with suitable fractionation and infection control precautions, adjuvant breast radiotherapy may safely continue during the second and any subsequent wave of this pandemic.

Hypofractionated breast radiotherapy for 1 week versus 3 weeks (FAST-Forward): 5-year efficacy and late normal tissue effects results from a multicentre, non-inferiority, randomised, phase 3 trial

International guidelines on radiation therapy for breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic

0936-6555/Ó 2020 The Royal College of Radiologists

Adjuvant Breast Radiotherapy at an Academic Centre during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Reassuringly Safe

The authors declare no conflict of interest.