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cancer care buckling under weight of pandemic

the healthcare backlog, which was exacerbated by pandemic delays in early 2020, is still delaying care for canadians with cancer.

by maija kappler

feb 8 2023
read time 3 minute read
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cancer care is still being impacted by pandemic-related delays
the idea behind the "get better" cards is to get people to write about an experience they've had with cancer care. supplied

with the passing of another world cancer day earlier this month, there’s been a renewed focus on the impact that cancer has had on the thousands of canadians living with the deadly disease, as well as the staggering numbers of those expected to develop it. according to the canadian cancer society (ccs), two in five canadians (44 per cent of men and 43 per cent of women) will develop cancer at some point in their lifetime.

these worrying statistics are even more concerning given the effect of the pandemic on cancer care. a recent survey by the ccs found that 25 per cent of patients have had cancer care appointments cancelled or postponed in recent months. that’s one in four canadians. we’re still reckoning with the wreckage the pandemic caused on cancer care: disruptions, postponements and cancelations led to 6 per cent fewer cancer cases being diagnosed in 2020 compared to the annual averages between 2015 and 2019.
“with any pandemic with any other health issue, cancer still exists,” says dr. stuart edmonds, executive vice president of mission, research and advocacy at the canadian cancer society. “it’s still life threatening, [or at least] life changing.”

almost every health issue is less destructive if it’s caught and treated early — but when dealing with cancer, which spreads rapidly and can form new tumours in different areas of the body when left untreated, timing is especially crucial. prostate cancer, for instance, has a survival rate close to 98 per cent if detected early — but survival rates drop to a mere 28 per cent when diagnosis happens late.

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“many cancers, if we can diagnose early, have treatments that can actually that can really improve outcomes for patients,” edmonds says. “so getting that treatment on board as soon as possible is is paramount.”
to make sure cancer care remains a priority, the ccs is urging the public to write “get better” cards to inspire change in canadian cancer care. supplied
to make sure cancer care remains a priority, the ccs is urging the public to write “get better” cards to inspire change in canadian cancer care. supplied

pandemic to blame for poor cancer care, increased stress

though it’s 2023, we are still digging our way out of cancer-appointment backlogs dating back to march 2020 — and the delays continue to mount.
“the challenge we have is that we know because of the the screening programs and the early diagnosis of cancer didn’t happen in the pandemic,” edmonds says. “people are still very anxious.”

and then there is the continued no-caregiver mandates that are still upheld by some health-care facilities because of covid concerns.  a hospital in stratford, ont. , for instance, put a temporary no caregivers-policy in place after a recent outbreak; the measure has just ended.

many people are still seeing their physicians only virtually, which in some cases, can have a negative effect, not only on treatment, but also on a patient’s sense of confidence and security that their health is being properly monitored.
“virtual health-care appointments are still being used, but they’re not as effective, patients are saying, as an in-person appointment,” edmonds says. “what we’ve heard… is that the quality of the treatment wasn’t as good in as it was pre-pandemic.”

to make sure cancer care remains a priority, the ccs is urging the public to write “get better cards .” the idea is that people to write about an experience they’ve had with cancer care, either personally or with a loved one, and then in april, the cards will be delivered to public officials, urging them to help cancer care get better.

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“these cards were the stories that people conveyed to us, [which] are concerning,” edmonds says. “and really, the idea is [to show that the] health-care system [needs to be] better.”
 
maija kappler is a reporter and editor with healthing.
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