‘Thousands missing out on cancer diagnosis’
The world is ignoring the signs
Since the peak of the pandemic, that’s been the focus on everyone’s minds lately. However, there are thousands of concerns pertaining to medical issues that others battle with daily like cancer, diabetes or depression. In the article, screening and referrals decreased since the priority has been placed on COVID-19. A lot of check-ups and screenings for a diagnosis or rule-out of cancer have taken a back seat.
Richard Sullivan who is a professor of cancer and global health at King’s College London says that there is more fear of having COVID-19 rather than having cancer. Most models in the UK estimate the deaths in cancer will be more than that of COVID-19, largely attributed to the under diagnosis.
A patient by the name of Maggs Bailey was seen last year to have a mole removed (melanoma). She came back for the follow-up only to find out that it was cancelled due to the pandemic having priority. If that’s the case, we’re in a way forcing avoidable diseases upon patients and that’s not the oath we took. There has to be some way that we can provide safe quality health care for all. Outside of the fact that thousands more die each year to flu, we (the medical professionals) still have a job to do and no one condition should supersede the next.
The executive director for policy at Cancer Research UK, Sarah Woolnough says there has been a 75% drop in urgent referrals by physicians who suspect cancer. Roughly 2300 patient per week aren’t being diagnosed and 400 per week aren’t being screened. Also the patient that are home quarantining while treating their already diagnosed cancer are being put off for their needed chemotherapy which isn’t beneficial for the patients either.
My thoughts on patients other than COVID-19 on the back burner are that this is not wise for the health of the world on a larger scale and in the long run. We must consider everyone and on a case by case basis. No matter the disease state we took an oath to do no harm. Whether it’s cancer or COVID, we are doing the patient a disservice if we don’t have some kind of balance or compromise. We are putting the patient’s health at risk when we ignore one population over the other. Especially when they trust us with their lives.
Thanks for reading
Dannielle
