If you have pushed back your annual mammogram or colonoscopy due to COVID-19, you are not alone. Researcher suggests the COVID outbreak has led to significantly fewer cancers being diagnosed in March and April.
Hospitals and clinics across America are filled with patients newly diagnosed with COVID-19, but cancer has notably decreased. Researchers from Quest Diagnostics observed a startling trend, with tests associated with the diagnosis of the six most common cancers were significantly down.
The largest decrease was breast cancer. This is likely a result of the recommendations for the general public to postpone elective procedures in the early days of the pandemic.
But cancer does not just stop because there is a pandemic. It's important that Americans get screened in a timely manner because cancer that is caught early is generally more treatable. If you have a concerning symptom or new lump, do not wait to bring it up to your physician.
