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The coronavirus crisis is discouraging many French people from going for tests. However, “cancer detected at an early stage allows for greater chances of a cure,” say specialists from the Cancer Institute of Montpellier, Hérault.
“We will live with the virus for several months and this should not penalize the detection and recruitment of other diseases such as cancer.“worries Professor Marc Ychou, director general of the Montpellier Cancer Institute.”During our first hospitalization, we received far fewer patients, with a 30-40% drop in diagnoses.“
In fact, many patients postpone exams due to the coronavirus crisis. Today, Montpellier Cancer Institute professionals receive patients with more advanced cancers than usual.
“It is dangerous to delay a diagnosis”
“We already know that this delay in diagnosis will have an impact. Unfortunately today it is impossible to know how many patients will be affected“says Professor Marc Ychou.
Delay in this treatment poses a real danger to patients. An English study published on 4 November 2020 in the British Medical Journal shows that a delayed cancer treatments, even a month, would increase mortality by 6 to 13%. “Cancer caught at an early stage has a better chance of recovery“insists the director general of the ICM.
“Let’s take the example of one of my patients: she had a mammogram last February, a lump was found. He waited until October to consult“explains Professor Ychou.
Unfortunately, when he saw her, the tumor was in an advanced stage.
“You won’t get Covid in a doctor’s office”
“If you have a scheduled screening appointment or have any symptoms, you should consult“adds Marc Ychou.
You will not take Covid in a doctor’s office or examination room. All precautions are observed.
For the time being, no cancer-related surgery has been deprogrammed at the Montpellier Cancer Institute. “We postpone reconstruction operations, for example the breast can be painful for patients“confides Professor Marc Ychou.
There are several campaigns to highlight screening: Pink October aims to fight breast cancer. The Movember operation, underway right now, is raising public awareness of male diseases such as prostate and testicular cancer.
However, interviewed by journalist Caroline Roux on France 2, Axel Kahn, doctor and president of the National Cancer League evoked his concern:
I can assure you that in the next 5 years there will be thousands of people who will die of cancer as a side effect of Covid19.
“I can tell you that in the next 5 years thousands of people will die #cancer as a side effect of #COVID-19 (…) “
💬 @axelkahn President of the National Cancer League▶️ # les4V pic.twitter.com/jSrwJuWMwF
– Caroline Roux (@Caroline_Roux) November 11, 2020
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