PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Coronavirus fears have caused many people to cross things off their list of priorities, including health checkups and cancer screenings. Health experts predict this could lead to a grim outcome.
The consequences of people avoiding their doctor's office due to COVID-19 fears are beginning to surface, according to Cancer Centers of America’s Dr. Shayma Kazmi.
“They had, for instance, a lung mass picked up around February or March and they were unable to get a biopsy due to a required COVID test and because of fear,” she said. “The patients rescheduled or the physician’s availability was limited, and of course, cancer spread throughout the body.”
She expects the situation to get even worse over the winter.
“When late stage cancers are going to increase the worst outcomes and death rates from cancer. If you do need these tests because you're at high risk of certain cancers, it is very important that you schedule them as soon as possible. If your appointment is canceled, then reschedule it,” said Kazmi.
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The National Cancer Institute is predicting more than 10,000 excess deaths from breast and colorectal cancer over the next decade due to missed screenings and delays of diagnosis.
In Pennsylvania, chief of thoracic oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Dr. Hossein Borghaei said that lung cancer diagnoses have declined 25% to 40% since the outbreak of the pandemic.
While he understands that COVID-19 remains a real health threat, Borghaei also said people need to overcome their fears to avoid an even worse outcome.
“It is imperative to contact their physicians and hospitals, make sure that all the necessary steps are being taken to limit their exposure to COVID and then show up for the doctors visits and screenings,” he advised.
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