COVID-19 Pandemic Affects the Cancer Continuum
ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ studies show how COVID-19 is affecting prevention efforts, cancer?screening rates, treatment, quality-of-life, and research.?
COVID-19 took over the world in 2020 but getting reliable data to understand its effect on cancer takes time¡ªusually 2 to 3 years using traditional population-based data sources like state cancer registries.
Until data started becoming available, researchers had to find innovative ways to gather some facts.
These images and text are a sample of American Cancer Society (ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½) studies published in 2021 based on data found in both traditional and less familiar ways. They show the beginnings of how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the continuum of cancer care.
Remembering the Start of the COVID-19 Health Care Takeover
In less than 2 months?after the United States identified its first cases of COVID-19, there were?more than 100,000 cases?and?2,000 deaths.
Everyone attempted to prevent the virus from spreading:
- Most states went into?lockdown.
- Local governments advised people to?stay home?and away from work, school, restaurants, gyms, family¡ªeven doctors¡¯ offices and hospitals.
- Many doctors¡¯ offices and hospitals completely?shut down non-urgent services and elective procedures, and delayed?visits for prevention, screening, treatment, and follow-up care.?
Disruptions in health care have affected the full range of cancer care?and care for others who may have a higher risk for being hospitalized and dying from coronavirus infection. The pandemic has also increased the risk for people with cancer or with a history of it to have a?reduced quality of life?due to cancer worry, health anxiety, depression, and inactivity.
Kudos to Kentucky for Not Letting COVID-19 Curb Lung Cancer Screening
In most states, the COVID-19 pandemic hasn't helped increase the low lung-cancer screening rates of people eligible for a yearly low-dose computed tomography (LDCT).
Surprisingly, though, when ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ researchers?compared screening rates between 2019 and 2020, they found?19 states had improved screening rates¡ªwith Kentucky having the most improvement.
"Kentucky's screening implementation efforts led to rates?more than 2 times the national average?and?4 times that of?West Virginia and Arkansas,?other high lung-cancer burden states.¡±
¡ªRobert Smith, PhD, study co-author and?ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Senior Vice President, Cancer Screening
?
- Helpful Resources
- For researchers