Cancer Screenings Missed During Pandemic: Doctors Racing to Catch Up
Originally Published 2 years ago — by CNN
A new report highlights the significant drop in cancer screenings and subsequent diagnoses during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, raising concerns about cancer outcomes in the coming years. The decline in newly diagnosed cases of major cancers can be attributed to people canceling or postponing screenings, leading to delayed diagnoses and care. Experts warn that it may take time for cancer services to return to pre-pandemic levels. While people are starting to resume routine screenings, there is a backlog of nearly 10 million individuals who missed screenings and need to be caught up. The delay in diagnosis is concerning as it is associated with more aggressive disease and worse outcomes.