New Report from NCI Highlights Impact of COVID-19 on Rates of Cancer Diagnosis

A new report from the National Cancer Institute has unveiled concerning findings about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer diagnoses in the United States. The report reveals that new diagnoses of six major cancer types experienced a significant decline in early 2020, coinciding with the onset of the pandemic. This dip in diagnoses correlates with a sharp reduction in pathology reports, suggesting that many individuals missed cancer screenings and essential medical procedures during this period. The report highlights that the abrupt decline in cancer diagnoses during the early stages of the pandemic was likely due to interruptions in medical care. COVID-19 led to changes in healthcare behaviors, with many individuals delaying or avoiding medical visits. Consequently, fewer cancer screenings and routine medical visits were conducted, which delayed the diagnosis of many cancers.

The cancers that showed a significant drop in diagnoses include female breast, lung, and colorectal cancers, which are typically identified through screening tests such as mammography or colonoscopy. Breast cancer diagnoses declined approximately 65% from the start of the pandemic to a low in April 2020 and colorectal cancer diagnoses declined by approximately 60% Additionally, thyroid and prostate cancers, often diagnosed incidentally, also experienced fewer diagnoses. Pancreatic cancer, which is typically diagnosed when patients present with symptoms, was an exception and showed a lesser decrease in diagnoses.

This study is the most extensive to date, using population-based data from central cancer registries to assess the pandemic’s impact on cancer incidence in the United States. The researchers analyzed data from 2015 to 2020, comparing newly diagnosed cancer cases in 2020 with previous years’ expectations. The data revealed that from March to May 2020, new cases of all six cancer types experienced a sharp decline. However, by July 2020, diagnoses for all cancer types, except prostate cancer, had returned to pre-pandemic levels. This recovery continued throughout the second half of the year. An essential aspect of the report is that early-stage cancers experienced more significant declines in diagnosis compared to advanced cancers. This decline was particularly prominent in cancers typically diagnosed through screening, such as female breast, lung, and colorectal cancer. For example, the report showed that over 16% of early-stage colorectal cancer cases weren’t detected in 2020, emphasizing the impact of missed screenings on early detection.