COVID-19 Pandemic Causes Sharp Decline in Cancer Diagnoses, Prompting Doctors to Catch Up

New diagnoses of six major cancer types in the United States experienced a significant decline during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer. The study found that lung cancer diagnoses, along with other major cancer types, sharply dropped from March to May 2020, likely due to interruptions in medical care and missed screenings. The decline in cancer diagnoses highlights the need to prioritize cancer screening access and awareness to avoid unnecessary deaths and complications. Efforts are underway to make up for the missed screenings and reduce disparities in early detection.