Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of people visiting hospitals and clinics have reduced. As a result, the number of patients newly diagnosed with cancer have also decreased significantly. However, this does not mean that the actual number of cancer cases have decreased.
This unsettling trend suggests that there have been many cancer cases that have gone undetected and undiagnosed – could this be because many people have postponed and deferred their yearly or quarterly check-ups?
A recent letter written by The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) is urging people across the country to resume regular checkups, cancer screening, and evidence-based cancer treatment to lessen the impact the pandemic is having on identifying and treating people with cancer. Read more here.