There is a new warning Thursday night about the impact of COVID-19 on cancer. Researchers predict there could be at least 10,000 more deaths in the next decade all because of delays in screenings and treatment.Dr. Richard Bold, Physician-in-Charge at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center explained the number could possibly be an underestimate because new data only focuses on two forms of cancer. “It doesn’t include all of the other patients who didn’t seek medical care who are going to see their doctor with advanced staged cancer, which their chance of cure is much less,” he said. Dr. Bold explained that many people haven’t received routine screenings like mammograms, colonoscopies and pap smears. “Particularly at the beginning of last year, we didn’t think we were going to be in COVID for this long or even longer, so a delay of three months might have been reasonable. We’re now a year into it and that’s an unreasonable delay in screening,” he said. Doctors believe there are a number of reasons for the delayed screenings. Stay-at-home orders restricted patients from going to the doctor and many people have fear of contracting COVID-19 at the doctor’s office.“The medical centers are really safe. They’re probably safer than just any other place than your home for the possible contraction of COVID. The health care providers for the most part are vaccinated so COVID is not going to be transferred from a healthcare provider to a patient,” Dr. Bold said. “If you put off your mammogram, go get it. If you put off the colonoscopy, it’s time for that,” he said. UC Davis recently took part in a study that showed patients with cancer have a higher chance of dying from COVID-19. So UC Davis has put cancer patients in the next tier to get the vaccine. They hope to begin vaccinations for cancer patients some time in February.
There is a new warning Thursday night about the impact of COVID-19 on cancer. Researchers predict there could be at least 10,000 more deaths in the next decade all because of delays in screenings and treatment.
Dr. Richard Bold, Physician-in-Charge at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center explained the number could possibly be an underestimate because new data only focuses on two forms of cancer.
“It doesn’t include all of the other patients who didn’t seek medical care who are going to see their doctor with advanced staged cancer, which their chance of cure is much less,” he said.
Dr. Bold explained that many people haven’t received routine screenings like mammograms, colonoscopies and pap smears.
“Particularly at the beginning of last year, we didn’t think we were going to be in COVID for this long or even longer, so a delay of three months might have been reasonable. We’re now a year into it and that’s an unreasonable delay in screening,” he said.
Doctors believe there are a number of reasons for the delayed screenings. Stay-at-home orders restricted patients from going to the doctor and many people have fear of contracting COVID-19 at the doctor’s office.
“The medical centers are really safe. They’re probably safer than just any other place than your home for the possible contraction of COVID. The health care providers for the most part are vaccinated so COVID is not going to be transferred from a healthcare provider to a patient,” Dr. Bold said.
“If you put off your mammogram, go get it. If you put off the colonoscopy, it’s time for that,” he said.
UC Davis recently took part in a study that showed patients with cancer have a higher chance of dying from COVID-19.
So UC Davis has put cancer patients in the next tier to get the vaccine. They hope to begin vaccinations for cancer patients some time in February.