May be the result of treatment postponements and deferrals that were common at the beginning of the pandemic<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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FRIDAY, April 2, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Physicians report that patients are presenting with more advanced-stage cancers — a possible consequence of deferred care earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the results of a survey conducted by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).<\/p>\n
ASTRO surveyed 117 medical directors of U.S. radiation oncology practices between Jan. 15 and Feb. 7, 2021, as well as in April, May, and June of 2020.<\/p>\n
According to the results of the survey, two-thirds of the physicians said new patients are presenting with more advanced disease compared with before the pandemic. Three-fourths of respondents noticed lapsed cancer screenings among their patient populations. Of existing patients, two-thirds experienced treatment interruptions due to the pandemic, most often caused by COVID-19 quarantine or illness of the patient or their caregiver. In 2021, only 15 percent of clinics report postponing treatment compared with 92 percent in April 2020.<\/p>\n
“One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, we already see the consequences of pandemic-driven drops in cancer screening and diagnostics,” Thomas J. Eichler, M.D., chair of the ASTRO Board of Directors, said in a statement. “Because the pandemic and cancer cause disproportionately more harm for Black and other medically underserved populations, these rates may be even higher for some vulnerable communities.”<\/p>\n