2023-06-12 12:58:08
The study looks at 10 of the most common types of cancer in Canada and covers a three-year period from 2018 to 2020.
A significant drop in diagnoses of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, as well as melanoma was found in the study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).
Most of these findings are likely related to disruptions to organized screening programs and other diagnostic activities that result.
explain Darren Brennerepidemiologist and lead author of the study.
The latter indicates that the difficulties in accessing primary care services and the decrease in the number of in-person appointments during the first periods of the state of emergency may also have played a role in this disruption of the health system. in Alberta.
What the study reveals
Analysis of the impact of the pandemic on cancer screening and stage at diagnosis, as well as the survival of those with the disease in Alberta, looked at a total of 42,862 diagnoses.
The study published Monday estimates that the incidence of breast cancer decreased by 33% during the state of emergency declared at the start of the pandemic, from March 16 to June 16, 2020, compared to the years 2018 and 2019. Once the state of emergency was lifted, monthly diagnoses for this type of cancer increased at a rate of 10% per month, returning to their usual levels in December 2020.
For melanoma, colorectal cancer and prostate cancer, new diagnoses were respectively 43%, 36% and 36% lower during the state of emergency compared to the period before its introduction. The monthly diagnosis rates recorded after the state of emergency also gradually recovered during the following months.
The biggest falls [dans les nouveaux diagnostics] have been observed in early-stage cancers
noted Darren Brenner, epidemiologist at the University of Calgary and author of the study. These data concretely show that cancer screening can detect cancers at an early stage.
Angeline Webbspokesperson for the Canadian Cancer Society, points out that delays, the backlog of unprocessed files and long wait times all have a significant impact on the results of care for people with cancer.
It is also important to note that the number of people diagnosed with cancer is also expected to increase considerably in the coming years, due to the growth and aging of the population.
she explains.
Modeling done by the research team shows that 1,455 cancer diagnoses could have been missed in Alberta between March and December 2020. Darren Brenner says the situation has improved and by the end of 2020 cancer diagnoses were back to expected levels.
« When cancers are detected earlier, results [de traitement] are better overall. »
However, the researcher stresses the importance of efforts to bring the public back to these cancer screening programs and of not letting up once Alberta has managed to catch up.
With information from Jennifer Lee
1686655144
#Number #cancer #diagnoses #Alberta #dropped #study #finds