Since the pandemic hit, fewer people are being diagnosed with cancer, which might sound like good news at first glance. However, it’s far from ideal. This decrease doesn’t mean there’s less cancer—it simply indicates that many cases are slipping under the radar. These cancers aren’t gone; they’re just waiting to be found, and often at a much later, more dangerous stage. By the time they’re finally diagnosed, it’s usually too late for optimal treatment, leading to poorer outcomes and lower chances of survival.
The reality is clear: the pandemic shouldn’t be used as an excuse to neglect your regular health checks. Even though many people have put their healthcare on hold during this time, catching up with your doctor remains crucial. Believe it or not, visiting a doctor’s office is actually one of the safer activities you can engage in during a pandemic, especially if precautions are taken. If you’re unsure, tools like the event risk assessment planning tool can help you decide the safest moment to schedule an appointment.
As recent data shows, major lab companies such as Quest Diagnostics and health records firms like Epic have reported a nearly 50% drop in the diagnosis of common cancers, including breast, colorectal, lung, gastric, pancreatic, and esophageal cancers. Screening rates for these diseases have fallen even more drastically. Unfortunately, when these cancers are caught at later stages, the prognosis becomes significantly worse. Take non-small cell lung cancer, for instance. If detected early while still localized, its five-year relative survival rate stands at 61%. But once it spreads, that rate plummets to just 6%.
Similarly, breast cancer survival drops dramatically from 99% at the local stage to 27% at the distant stage. Colorectal cancer survival sees a similar decline, falling from 90% to 14%. These statistics highlight how critical early detection truly is.
This isn’t just about cancer—it extends to other health issues too. Cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, dementia, and even conditions like restless leg syndrome are also being overlooked right now. We’re bound to see a spike in these ailments in the coming years, and while we may not immediately notice the impact, we’ll likely witness an overall increase in fatalities over time.
The message here is simple yet vital: maintaining your health isn’t optional, even during a pandemic. If it’s feasible and safe given your local circumstances, keeping up with routine care—whether it’s annual physicals, cancer screenings, or addressing new symptoms—is essential. It’s easy to overlook these responsibilities, but neglecting them can have serious long-term consequences. Just like preparing for emergencies, staying on top of your health requires consistent effort. Let’s not let fear or complacency stand in the way of taking care of ourselves and those around us.
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