The Importance of Early Cancer Detection
It is no secret that the global COVID pandemic has impacted how and when people learn they have a cancer diagnosis, and not in a good way. With the ongoing surges and growing list of variants, cancer screenings, like most other routine medical care, have repeatedly been postponed, resulting in delayed diagnosis for many patients.
In 2020, news outlets like NBC and the Wall Street Journal ran stories with stark headlines like, “COVID-19 Outbreaks Led to Dangerous Delay in Cancer Diagnosis” and “10,000 More Cancer Deaths Predicted Because of COVID-19 Pandemic.” Those trends have continued through 2021 and it appears the same will hold into 2022.
When a cancer diagnosis is delayed, its outcome can be impacted. Generally speaking, the earlier a cancer is detected and treated, the better the outcome. With so many hospitals needing to increase their focus and resources into the pandemic, cancer care is more likely to become delayed or inaccessible. This could lessen the chance of survival, increase the number of problems associated with treatment, and add to the overall cost of care.
But not all is out of a patient’s control. Here are seven basic steps patients can take to ensure their continued good health and access to cancer care, if needed. All of them require a more engaged and proactive approach to care. Remember that passivity can be as detrimental to an early cancer diagnosis as the pandemic is.
Show up for your annual physical. It may be tempting to postpose, telling yourself you will catch up when things “get back to normal,” but it does not look like that will happen anytime soon. Make the appointment and show up as scheduled.
See your dentist. If someone is diagnosed with cancer and they have untreated oral issues like cavities, they are more vulnerable to infection. Adding chemo to the mix only increases that risk. Stay on top of your oral health.
Women should not miss their annual gynecological exams. Get those pap smears, ladies!
Self-exams are an important tool. Self-exams do not replace medical screening, but when screenings are postponed or inaccessible, self-exams do have some usefulness. Examining breasts, testicles, and skin are all things that can and should be added to self-care routines.
Schedule that colonoscopy. If you have it scheduled, do the responsible thing and keep your appointment. If you do not have it scheduled and you are 45 or older, talk to your doctor about setting one up.
Early action is important. If you see something or notice something that is concerning, speak up and say something to your doctor. Never delay addressing a concerning symptom.
Know if you are high risk. Anyone with a first or second degree relative (first degree is parent, sibling, child; second degree is grandparent, aunt, uncle, nephew, or niece) who had cancer, especially at an early age, should consider being tested for any inherited genetic mutations that could increase risk for specific types of cancer.
“Taking care of yourself in an engaged, proactive way is one of the best ways to stay healthy,” says Dr. Srilata Gundala, hematologist/oncologist and founder of Hope & Healing Care Centers in Lombard and Hinsdale, Illinois, “There is much about living through a pandemic that is out of our control, but there are other things patients can do to optimize their own good health, even in the midst of a pandemic. Be an active participant in your own care. Like early detection, being an active, engaged patient can improve your health outcome, whatever the issue.”
Learn more about cancer screening HERE and read about being an empowered patient HERE.
Written By: Sheila Quirke, MSW
Review By: Srilata Gundala, MD
