COVID-19 Pandemic Worsened Cancer Survival

A new federally funded study published in JAMA Oncology reveals that cancer patients diagnosed during the early COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) experienced worse short-term survival rates compared to those diagnosed pre-pandemic (2015-2019). Todd Burus, the lead author from the University of Kentucky, suggests that disruptions to the healthcare system, such as postponed screenings, were key contributors. While overall cancer death rates in the U.S. continued to decline, the study focused on newly diagnosed patients, finding lower one-year survival rates across various cancers, particularly colorectal, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. Recinda Sherman of the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries and Hyuna Sung of the American Cancer Society emphasized the study's importance for understanding COVID-19's impact and preparing for future pandemics.