Experts worried that the COVID-19 pandemic would cost lives due to disruptions in cancer care. A new, federally funded study suggests they were absolutely right. Researchers found that people diagnosed with cancer in 2020 and 2021 had worsened cancer survival in the short term compared to those diagnosed between 2015 and 2019. Furthermore, this was true across a range of cancers and regardless of the diagnosis stage.
Understanding Worsened Cancer Survival
The researchers attempted to filter out deaths primarily attributed to COVID-19 itself. Consequently, they could focus on whether other factors played a role. Todd Burus, the study’s lead author from the University of Kentucky, stated that they could not definitively show the driving factor. However, Burus, an expert in medical data analysis, suggested that disruptions to the health care system were probably a key contributor.
The coronavirus crisis overwhelmed many doctors and hospitals, especially in 2020. Therefore, COVID-19 forced many individuals to postpone crucial cancer screenings, including colonoscopies, mammograms, and lung scans. Earlier research had actually shown that overall U.S. cancer death rates continued to decline throughout the pandemic, with no major shifts in late diagnoses. Recinda Sherman, from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, applauded the new work. She believes that documenting pandemic-related, cause-specific survival is important.
Dissecting Short-Term Survival Declines
How could overall cancer death rates decline in 2020 and 2021 while short-term survival worsened for newly diagnosed patients? Burus noted that cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment measures had been pushing cancer death rates down for years. These measures did not suddenly disappear during the pandemic. He explained, “We didn’t forget how to do those things.” But, disruptions could have changed patient access to care and delayed the speed at which people received treatment.
Hyuna Sung, a senior principal scientist at the American Cancer Society, commented on the future outlook. Further research will show if any impact was lasting. Transient declines in survival that quickly recover may have little impact on long-term mortality trends, she added. The new study specifically analyzed national cancer registry data. They focused on patients with a first diagnosis of a malignant cancer in 2020 and 2021. More than one million people received a diagnosis in those two years, and approximately 144,000 died within one year, based on the researchers’ data.
Cancers Most Affected by Delays
Researchers specifically looked at the one-year survival rates for these patients. They checked the stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis. They calculated that one-year survival was lower for both early- and late-stage diagnoses when combining all cancer sites. The study found large differences, which were most worrisome, in colorectal, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.
Overall, the findings indicated that more than 96% of people with an early-stage cancer diagnosis in 2020 and 2021 survived more than a year. Also, more than 74% of those with a late-stage diagnosis survived for over a year. Consequently, these rates were slightly lower than expected based on the 2015-2019 trends. This shortfall resulted in an estimated 17,400 more deaths than would have otherwise occurred.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What specific types of cancer saw the most concerning short-term survival differences?
The study indicated that colorectal, prostate, and pancreatic cancers showed the largest and most worrisome differences in one-year survival rates during the pandemic’s early years. For those interested in specialized oncology training, consider exploring the Oncology Speciality Courses offered by OC Academy.
Q2: Why did overall cancer death rates continue to decline if short-term survival worsened for new patients?
Cancer prevention and treatment advancements that had been lowering death rates for years did not stop during the pandemic. However, the disruptions primarily affected access and speed of treatment for newly diagnosed patients, leading to a transient decline in their short-term survival only.
Q3: How many additional deaths did the study attribute to this drop in expected survival?
The researchers calculated that the slightly lower survival rates in 2020 and 2021, compared to pre-pandemic trends, resulted in approximately 17,400 more deaths than expected within one year of diagnosis. Professionals looking to advance their knowledge in oncology through structured programs can review the Certification Course In Clinical Oncology.
References
- Pandemic disruptions to health care worsened cancer survival, study suggests – ETHealthworld
- Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Screening and Diagnosis: A Global Perspective.
- Short-term Mortality Trends in Newly Diagnosed Cancer Patients During the Pandemic.
Disclaimer: This article was automatically generated from publicly available sources and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. OC Academy does not exercise editorial control or claim authorship over this content. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider and refer to current local and national clinical guidelines.