A comprehensive spearheaded by the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center reveals a staggering estimate of over 134,000 missed cancer diagnoses in the first 10 months of 2020. [Source]
“The longer cancer exists undetected, the lower the chances of positive patient outcomes. Every missed detection is a lost opportunity to beat cancer at its most treatable stage,” remarked Krystle Lang Kuhs, PhD, MPH, the study’s senior author and a beacon in cancer prevention and control at the University of Kentucky. [Source]
Published in JAMA Oncology, this groundbreaking research utilized the US Cancer Statistics Public Use Database’s June 2023 release, marking a first in providing a quantifiable glimpse into the pandemic’s toll on cancer detection across all 50 states.
The analysis highlighted a pronounced dip in diagnoses during March to May 2020, with a 28.6% decrease compared to the previous two years, culminating in a 13.0% overall reduction through December 2020. [Source]
Particularly alarming is the significant decrease in diagnoses of cancers typically identified through annual screenings
Prostate cancer leads the list of potentially missed diagnoses, with an estimated 22,950 cases, followed closely by female breast (16,870) and lung cancers (16,333).
This disruption not only signals an immediate concern but also portends a likely surge in cancer mortality in the coming years, as delayed diagnoses could result in more advanced disease stages at detection and reduced survival rates.
“After the first 3 months of the pandemic, the rate of female breast cancer detection rebounded, but rates remained low for colorectal, cervical, and lung cancers for the remainder of 2020,” the study reports, highlighting the uneven recovery across different cancer types.
The study’s findings serve as a clarion call for the healthcare system to redouble efforts in cancer screening and detection.
Todd Burus, the study’s lead author, explained the importance of timely data dissemination. “It is unfortunate that we are only able to perform this assessment over two years after the fact,” he stated, advocating for investments in resources for more prompt tracking of cancer incidence trends.
Moreover, the research identifies a correlation between the duration of stay-at-home orders and the extent of diagnostic disruptions, with states imposing orders beyond six weeks experiencing more significant decreases in cancer diagnoses, particularly for lung, kidney, and pancreatic cancers.