Delayed cancer screening amid the pandemic could lead to more patients suffering from advanced forms of the disease in the future, doctors are concerned.
“We are certainly concerned about the impact of delays in the examination and treatment of cancer patients,” said Dr. Bob Keenan, chief medical officer of the Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida, wrote in a statement.
Keenan noted that the site, like many others, temporarily closed the spring for a few months for mammography and colonoscopy. The services resumed early in the summer, and protocols to prioritize the coronavirus-positive patients, depending on how aggressive their tumors were, were intended to reduce the impact of delays.
“That said, we do have the feeling that some patients presented at a later stage than it would have been before COVID,” Keenan wrote in part to Fox News. “We are currently analyzing our findings this year compared to previous years to see if there are any significant differences.”
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Separate data based on 2.7 million patient records in 23 states showed an 86-94% drop in weekly preventive cancer screening conducted last spring compared to pre-pandemic figures, according to an analysis by EPIC Health Research Network. By June, the number of screenings for breast cancer, colon and cervical cancer had improved, but it was about one-third lower than in 2017-2019.
An expert from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston confirmed that cancer screening and exams have not yet returned to baseline, while there has been an apparent lack of a setback to compensate for missed exams.
‘It is worrying that we will see an increase in cancer and cancer deaths in the future, because these cancers will eventually appear, and perhaps at a time when we missed the opportunity to treat and cure them more easily. , “Dr. Craig Bunnell, chief medical officer of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, wrote in an email.
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It seems that serious consequences of delayed performances are only beginning to unfold. Dr. Robert McWilliams at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center reported that providers “are now beginning to see the impact of delayed screening,” while dr. Matt Kalaycio, vice president of the Taussig Cancer Institute of Cleveland Clinic, said data have not yet confirmed more patients. is presented with cancer in the late stage.
Nevertheless, the American Cancer Society told Fox News that providers should not only address the backlog of missed performances, but also prioritize what patients need to make appointments, such as those at higher risk for diseases that require rapid or more frequent examinations.
“Identification of patients at increased risk of cancer due to genetic, personal or family history is essential, and these patients should be given preferential status when awarding screening grants,” the ACS wrote in an email.
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Patients with previous abnormal tests and those with new or worrying symptoms should also be given a higher priority “than individuals at average risk,” the association said, also calling for “urgently needed” policy changes as a result. to address a growing uninsured population. of the pandemic.
“The recent coronavirus relief bill and the numerous provisions to extend access to affordable comprehensive health coverage adopted by Congress are an important first step in addressing barriers to coverage,” the statement said. ‘The recent loss of insurance by millions of Americans will lead to immediate challenges with access to care, including cancer screening and cancer care. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we need to provide the public with safe opportunities for cancer screening and care, including a deliberate focus on overcoming barriers for populations disproportionately affected by cancer and COVID-19. “