On World Cancer Day, the German Cancer Aid calls for preventive appointments to be made. The corona pandemic has reduced the number of preventive and aftercare treatments. This could have serious consequences.
The German Cancer Aid warns of increased mortality among cancer patients as a late consequence of the corona pandemic. If the care deteriorates or diagnoses are made too late, this is reflected in cancer patients – “but only with a delay,” said the chairman of the cancer aid, Gerd Nettekoven, the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (Friday). He assumes that this will “be reflected in the death statistics from late 2022 or early 2023”. The AOK Federal Association called for the examinations for cancer prevention to be carried out during the pandemic.
World Cancer Day: Cancer Aid calls for investigations
Precautionary examinations could save lives, said the head of the AOK Federal Association, Carola Reimann. “This is the only chance to detect and treat a disease as early as possible.” The Lower Saxony Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KVN) also warned that early detection examinations should be carried out. “The earlier cancer is detected, the higher the chance of a cure,” said KVN Vice Jörg Berling. Breast, colon, skin and cervical cancer in particular, as well as various forms of prostate cancer, are usually easily curable if detected early. Only: “Patients with cancer are often left behind in the pandemic,” emphasized Nettekoven.
In fact, since the beginning of the pandemic, the number of patients being treated in hospital for cancer has fallen. As reported by the Federal Statistical Office on the occasion of World Cancer Day (February 4), almost 1.45 million cancer patients were treated in clinics nationwide in 2020 – six percent less than in the previous year. The number of cancer operations fell by five percent in 2020 compared to 2019.
According to Nettekoven, early cancer detection was also badly affected, especially at the beginning of the pandemic. “For example, mammography screening for early detection of breast cancer was briefly suspended entirely in April 2020 to avoid contact,” he said. In his opinion, even during the course of the pandemic, examinations for the early detection of cancer were only carried out with caution – for fear of being infected with the corona virus in clinics or practices. Many people also did not want to put an additional burden on the healthcare system.
problems with follow-up care
According to the Cancer Aid, there are also severe restrictions in aftercare. “Currently, about every fifth follow-up examination does not take place,” said Nettekoven. He called for the planned early detection examinations to be carried out. “Even if the symptoms are unclear, you should never wait, but go to the doctor.” According to the AOK, men in particular use the early detection services too seldom, but there is a decline in almost all sectors. Doctors therefore feared an increase in cancer in the advanced stages.
According to an analysis by the health insurance company DAK, more people went for cancer screening in the first few months of last year than in the first year of the pandemic. Accordingly, the number of preventive examinations rose by around 14 percent compared to the same period last year. Nevertheless, since the outbreak of the pandemic, significantly fewer people have gone to cancer screening than before, and that also applies to 2021.
Reimann also campaigned for cancer patients to increasingly turn to special clinics. Before the corona pandemic, there were almost 200 hospitals with fewer than 20 breast cancer operations per year. Such “occasional surgery” is irresponsible because the necessary routine is missing, criticized Reimann.
points out that cancer check-ups are free for those with statutory health insurance. Women over the age of 20 have the opportunity to be examined annually. Men are recommended to be checked for skin cancer every year from the age of 35 if possible.
Source: Stern
