We took longer to go to the doctor with possible symptoms of cancer due to the pandemic
Researchers from the ibs.GRANADA and CIBERESP warn that delays in diagnosis imply more advanced cases and serious effects on the survival and health of patients. The only symptom for which the wait was not increased was persistent cough or hoarseness because it is also associated with COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused people to wait longer before seeking medical help for cancer symptoms. This is demonstrated by a study by the Epidemiology and Cancer research group of the ibs.GRANADA, belonging to the CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP) published in the British Journal of Cancer and that warns of the worrying increase in waiting times, which it could have an impact on significant delays in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, with more advanced stages of the disease and with serious implications for survival and quality of life of patients.
This study, directed by María José Sanchez at the Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada and at the Andalusian School of Public Health, in collaboration with that of the scientific director of CIBERESP Marina Pollán at the National Epidemiology Center, has used the 2020 Oncobarometer of the Spanish Association against Cancer, which has carried out two waves, pre and post coronavirus (in March and September 2020).
Respondents were asked how long it would take them to see their doctor after first detecting each of the 13 potential cancer symptoms. Although responses generally indicated rapid responses, a clear increase in the wait times respondents estimated before contacting the healthcare system was observed in the "post-coronavirus" wave for 12 of the 13 symptoms.
Changes in the chest and bleeding, among the most important symptoms
According to CIBERESP postdoctoral researcher Dafina Petrova, the study's lead author, "we observed significant increases in consultation times for symptoms described as 'any change in the breast' and 'unexplained bleeding,' which are clear warning signs for two of the three most common cancers in the Spanish population: breast cancer in women and colorectal cancer in both sexes." Furthermore, the only symptom for which no increase in waiting time was observed was 'persistent cough or hoarseness,' as this symptom is also associated with COVID-19.
A significant increase was also observed in the number of barriers people perceived when seeking medical care in the "post-coronavirus" wave compared to the "pre-coronavirus" wave. Although few people mentioned the coronavirus as a barrier, significant increases were observed in the number of people reporting fear of what the doctor might find and concern about wasting the doctor's time. These results suggest an overall increase in both health concerns and the perception that medical personnel's time is very valuable, and that one should seek medical advice only if well justified.
Women and people over 65, the most affected people
Changes in waiting times and perceived barriers were not the same in all sociodemographic groups studied.
Women and the elderly (especially those over 65) have been the most affected.
In this regard, the group leader, scientific director of ibs.GRANADA and final author of the study, María José Sánchez, states that the results demonstrate "an urgent need for interventions or information campaigns that encourage people to consult their doctors if they experience symptoms that could indicate cancer and that address perceived barriers, especially among women and older adults, who have been more affected by the pandemic."
Precisely, a recent study of 37 health centers throughout Spain showed that the number of new cancer patients decreased by 21% during the first pandemic wave (March-June 2020) compared to the same period in 2019.
Link to the reference article:
Anticipated help-seeking for cancer symptoms before and after the coronavirus pandemic: results from the Onco-barometer population survey in Spain
Dafina Petrova, Marina Pollán, Miguel Rodriguez-Barranco, Dunia Garrido, Josep M. Borrás and María José Sánchez
British Journal of Cancer https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-021-01382-1
