THE ESSENTIAL
- There were 382,000 new cases of cancer in 2018 according to Public Health France.
“We estimate that around one million cancer diagnoses might have been missed across Europe during the Covid-19 pandemic, believe the authors of a study published in the journal The Lancet Oncology. According to their work, 100 million screenings would not have been done during this period.
Fewer screenings, more cancers at advanced stages
“There is emerging evidence that a higher proportion of patients are being diagnosed with advanced stages of cancers compared to pre-pandemic rates due to significant delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment“, develop the scientists. Indeed, during this period, fewer patients might be screened and the diagnoses were therefore made later, when the disease had progressed. The scientists believe that this might therefore have a long-term impact on population health.
Indeed, early detection is a major public health issue because it increases the chances of cure and the management of many cancers. For example, for the breast, theHealth Insurance estimates that there would be 99% five-year survival for breast cancer detected at an early stage, once morest only 26% when diagnosed at a late stage.
Fewer screenings due to Covid-19, Brexit, war in Ukraine
But these delays might also impact cancer research and services. “We have seen a negative effect on cancer research, with the closure of laboratories but also the cancellation or delay of clinical trials during the first pandemic wave, said Mark Lawler, one of the study’s authors, to the Guardian. We fear that Europe is heading for a cancer epidemic in the next decade if health systems and cancer research are not urgently prioritized“.
However, it is not just the Covid-19 crisis that explains the high number of cancers that have not been detected. “In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it is more important than ever that Europe develops cancer research to play a role in improving prevention, diagnosis, treatment and quality of life for current and future patients”, believe the researchers. And all the more so since Russia and Ukraine are two countries that are usually invested in research.
The authors therefore encourage States to invest more in cancer research, prevention and treatment. “It is estimated that 40% of cancers in Europe might be prevented if prevention strategies made better use of current knowledge of cancer risk factors“, concludes Anna Schmütz, of the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
