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Various surveys show that the number of newly diagnosed cancer cases has been declining since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Obviously, this is not due to the sudden decline in the number of cancer patients, but to the fact that they are discovered late. The US National Cancer Institute estimates that late-onset diagnoses of breast and rectal cancer due to the Covid-19 epidemic
more than 10,000 people will claim their lives over the next ten years in the United States alone.
Previously, the World Health Organization noted that screening programs in more than half of the 155 member states surveyed had been postponed in the first wave of the epidemic. As a result, 60 percent fewer cancer patients were diagnosed in England in April than a year earlier, resulting in 6,270 additional deaths in the island nation next year, an increase of 20 percent.
The same survey reports 80,000 late diagnoses of cancer in the United States in the spring-early summer months, and it is estimated to cause 33,890 more deaths. In reality, there may be even more cancer victims because no new surveys have been conducted yet in the current second wave of the epidemic.
National data on cancers diagnosed this year are not publicly available, the CSO summarizes them only annually (almost 74 thousand five hundred new cases were registered last year). However, various indications suggest that the situation is certainly unfavorable also in Hungary.
According to TÁRKI research, 10 percent of respondents indicated that they did not receive any necessary medical care not related to the coronavirus at the time of the spring restrictions, which included cancer screenings. The memorable screening tests were suspended in mid-March due to the threat of the epidemic, and it was not until June 1 that mammography examinations, cervical and colon cancer screenings were resumed.
The president of the Hungarian Society of Clinical Oncology, Gábor Pajkos, has already spoken about the fact that specialists from all over the world fear that after the coronavirus epidemic subsides, many more will be diagnosed with advanced cancer because they could not or did not want to see to a doctor at the time of the epidemic.
However, he warned that procrastination could claim many more lives than a virus. However, when it comes to deferral, this has sadly been the case for Hungarians so far: according to experts, this is mainly due to extremely poor national cancer mortality statistics in the international context, as diagnostic options and therapeutic are no worse than in neighboring countries. .
Early detection is essential in the treatment of cancer. In the case of cervical cancer, for example, 92 percent of patients survive diagnosis for at least five years if they see a doctor after the first symptoms appear, but if the cancer is already in a stage advanced, there is only a 17 percent chance of doing so. National colon cancer screening, which began this year, should also not be postponed due to the epidemic, as preventive conditions that indicate problems are not symptomatic, so everyone over 50 should be screened.
And those who experience blood or discharge in their stools, experience unexplained weight loss, pain, changes in bowel movements, or a persistent cough, should not delay treatment with a doctor. We cannot allow a tumor to come out too late because the patient was afraid to undergo a diagnostic endoscopy due to the Covid-19 epidemic.
Said Richard Schwab, chief gastroenterologist at Affidea Bank Center’s Gastroenterology Center. He added that the examinations are carried out in accordance with international recommendations and the regulations of the Hungarian Gastroenterology Society, with maximum compliance with safety regulations.
The Hungarian League Against Cancer also draws attention to the importance of cancer screening tests “Cancer does not rest, it does not just rebel!” Bell. Guides you through 8 warning signs that you need to see a doctor even during a pandemic.
Oncologies must work
Not only the cancer screenings, but also the treatments started did not go well everywhere; Gábor Pajkos also spoke about this in June. It said it had cut the number of visits and treatments performed by about half, mainly because doctors had to consider whether a coronavirus infection was a higher risk or a delay in that treatment. However, the majority of specialists testified to the latter, most oncologies did not stop in the first wave of the epidemic, and now the ministry of the ministry was clear: cancer patients must continue to receive the necessary care, organized cancer examinations must go the way they cannot. Important cardiological services, infertility treatments, and organ transplants can be performed with strict adherence to epidemiological precautions.
(Cover image: BSIP / UIG / Getty Images)
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