Cancer is a leading cause of deaths in the U.S. and across the globe. Cancer screening is an effective preventive measure that can reduce cancer incidence and mortality. While cancer screening is integral to cancer control and prevention, due to the coronavirus outbreak many screenings have either been cancelled or postponed, leaving a vast number of patients without access to recommended healthcare services. This disruption to cancer screening services may have a significant impact on patients, healthcare practitioners, and health systems. In this article, we aim to offer a comprehensive view of the impact of COVID-19 on cancer screening. Specially, we present challenges COVID-19 exerted on patients, healthcare practitioners, and health systems as well as potential opportunities that could help address these challenges.
JMIR cancer. 2020 Sep 30 [Epub ahead of print]
Ramon Cancino, Zhaohui Su, Ruben Mesa, Gail Tomlinson, Jing Wang
Department of Family & Community Medicine, Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, US., School of Nursing, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, US., Department of Medicine, Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, US., Department of Pediatrics, Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, US.