Fri Sep 13 10:36:00 UTC 2024: ## Cancer Diagnoses Remain Lower Than Expected in 2021, Study Finds
**New York, NY** – A new study published in JAMA Network Open Oncology reveals that cancer diagnosis rates in the United States remained below pre-pandemic levels in 2021, following a significant drop in 2020. The study, which analyzed data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, found that cancer incidence at all sites was 2.7% lower than expected in 2021.
The research indicates that while some cancers, like breast cancer, saw a rebound in diagnoses in 2021, others, including lung, cervical, bladder, kidney, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, continued to be diagnosed at lower than expected rates.
The study suggests that the ongoing decline in cancer diagnoses may be attributed to disruptions in healthcare access during the pandemic, such as extended wait times for screenings and appointments. This delay in diagnosis could lead to increased instances of late-stage cancer, potentially impacting patient outcomes.
“The persistently reduced detection of lung and cervical cancers at early stages during both years suggests reduced screening for cancers at these sites due to prolonged wait times or reductions in new appointments for screening,” the study notes.
The research emphasizes the need for strategies to increase cancer screenings and make up for lost ground, aiming to prevent a future surge in late-stage diagnoses.
“Particular attention should be directed at strategies to immediately increase cancer screenings to make up lost ground and prevent a future surplus of late-stage diagnoses,” the study concludes.
First Piper 