COVID-19 has given us a “new normal”, from face masks to hand sanitiser and social distancing, it has also profoundly affected healthcare.
In Australia, we have seen a significant drop in cancer screening, pathology and surgery1. Job insecurity and financial concerns2 along with fear and anxiety around contracting coronavirus3 has resulted in many Australians deferring medical attention for new symptoms or attending routine follow-up appointments.
The pandemic has also meant restrictions to elective surgery4 along with the suspension of many clinical trials5 which can lead to long-lasting health and financial consequences.
Cancer cases do not disappear as a result of reduced screening6, they just remain undetected. When cancer is diagnosed at a later stage it is more difficult to treat and survival rates decline7.
As a collective of patient organisations, we want to encourage people to contact their healthcare professional, get checked or re-book their missed medical appointments, to minimise the time between cancer diagnosis and treatment, from weeks to days.
Негізгі бет New Normal Same Cancer
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