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Screenings Dropped Dramatically

In the news...Cancer screening plunged during the pandemic. (Read about "Cancer Check-ups" "Coronaviruses") A new study highlights the dramatic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer-screening delays and how the situation continues to this day.

New data published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology further quantify the vast lingering impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on timely cancer screening, highlighting the urgent need for health care providers to address significant delays to cancer screenings in populations most likely to delay testing.

Survey respondents were asked if they planned to have and then postponed a scheduled cancer screening test.

Of the 7,115 people who responded to the survey, 60 percent had a scheduled screening test planned. Among those who planned for a cancer screening test, 11 percent-36 percent delayed the planned test due to COVID-19, with variation by test

Of specific note: 24 percent of qualified study participants delayed screening mammograms, 27 percent delayed Pap tests and 36 percent delayed screening colonoscopies. (Read about "Mammograms" "Cervical Cancer" "Colonoscopy")

Most people delayed screenings as part of lockdowns and other measures to slow the spread of COVID.

COVID-19 can cause a range of issues, from mild symptoms to severe illness and death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say symptoms can appear days after exposure and include:

This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC says it will continue to update this list as it learns more about COVID-19.

If you have any symptoms, do not go into work. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice.

Trouble breathing and /or persistent pain or pressure in the chest indicate an emergency situation and you should seek help. If you or someone around you develops new confusion or inability to arouse that too is a reason to seek care. Bluish lips or face can indicate a low oxygen level and should also be treated as an emergency.

As with other diseases caused by coronaviruses, COVID-19 is believed to spread from person to person through droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

CDC says it is important that people take steps to protect themselves, including:

If you have any symptoms, do not go into work. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice.

Note: Statements and conclusions of study authors that are published here are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect this hospital's policy or position. This hospital makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability.

All Concept Communications material is provided for information only and is neither advice nor a substitute for proper medical care. Consult a qualified healthcare professional who understands your particular history for individual concerns.

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