P112 The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on lung cancer diagnosis and treatment at St George’s Hospital

Abstract

P112 Figure 1Lung cancer by clinical stage pre and during COVID-19 pandemic[Figure omitted. See PDF]ConclusionThe Covid pandemic had a major impact on our lung cancer service. A noticeable reduction in early stage (IA1- IIB) lung cancers were seen from 126 (44%) to 81 (39%). It can be postulated that during the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a reduction in routine CT scanning for other organs, which often picks up incidental early stage lung cancers. So far there has not been an increase in the numbers of later stage cases, but it can be hypothesised that these patients may present in the coming months as they are unlikely to become symptomatic within a year with early lung cancers. There is an important cohort of patients with early stage disease suitable for radical treatment that may have been missed since Covid-19 started and measures should be put in place to try to identify them as soon as possible.