The stage of advancement of malignant neoplasms – primarily of the lungs and liver – is much higher than before the pandemic – Prof. Piotr Rutkowski from the National Institute of Oncology in Warsaw. He added that it was due to, inter alia, from months-long transformations to covid pulmonary and infectious wards.
- «When we ask patients what is the reason for the late visit to the doctor, they often indicate that they have not left the house for a year. Others say that they had teleportation for a year or were unable to get to a specialist »- says prof. Rutkowski
- As he explains, his own observations confirm the fact that there are more patients with cancer and they visit doctors in the later stages of the disease, when metastases begin.
- Pulmonary wards have been and are being transformed into covid wards. There are already cases of diagnosed lung cancer in such a stage that we have not observed since the 90s – explains prof. Rutkowski
- The same is true for hepatocellular carcinoma. He is often associated with HCV or HBV infection. This was what infectious diseases specialists did. And yet the infectious diseases hospitals dealt in 99 percent. COVID treatment, he adds
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Rutkowski pointed out in an interview with PAP several factors related to the so-called health debt increasing during the COVID-19 epidemic in cancer patients.
He emphasized that in 2020 the epidemic situation resulted in a significant decrease in the number of cancer diagnoses in Polish patients.
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«At the moment, we are preparing a report for 2021 and we can clearly see a significant increase in the DiLO cards issued (oncological diagnosis and treatment card – editor’s note). We already estimate that there will be more of these diagnosed cancers. Firstly, because Poland is still on the wave of rising cancer diagnoses as a country where life expectancy is increasing, and where prevention is still insufficient. Secondly, some patients who were not diagnosed in 2020 were diagnosed in 2021 »- the expert explained.
He added that the effect of the so-called health debt in oncology is also shown by his personal observations. There is no hard data yet on the higher stage of cancer in patients, but more people attend, e.g. drug programs, and these largely target patients with metastatic tumors.
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As he pointed out, some patients have, among others, more advanced skin cancers and melanomas.
«When we ask them what is the reason for the late visit to the doctor, they often point out that they have not left the house for a year. Others say that they had teleportation for a year or could not get to a specialist »- explained prof. Rutkowski.
He claims that before the epidemic, mortality in Poland was significantly reduced in the case of some cancers.
«The jump was 12-15 percent survived, so it was a huge jump. Now we are going back a few years back. Oncology centers in Poland have a slightly identical status as hospitals. Throughout the epidemic, they work and take care of patients who are already in the system and being treated. There was no significant decrease in hospitalization of these people. (…) Now, due to the fact that patients with more advanced cancers go to centers, treatment is more time-consuming, more expensive and more difficult. In fact, it limits access to treatment for other patients »- he added.
In his opinion, it is necessary to involve family doctors in cancer diagnostics. The Prevention 40 Plus program – from its observations – did not, unfortunately, enjoy much interest.
«Poles do not like to scrutinize themselves. This is a very wrong approach. Availability for treatment is currently at a better level. The equipment is better and faster, e.g. mammography equipment. But what if there are no Polish women who come to this mammography? (…) It is necessary to implement health education in schools quickly. Secondly – as I said – family doctors must become more involved in preventive examinations. Taking into account the growing health debt, the National Oncology Network must be implemented as soon as possible »- he said.
He emphasized that a necessary element of this network, crucial for the patient, is the treatment coordinator, as well as a patient helpline. “We have been calling for this helpline for years, because the patient must know – what to do when he has a suspicion of a disease” – he pointed out.
He estimated that the greatest health debt may be noticeable in lung cancer.
«After all, pulmonary wards have been and are being transformed into covid wards. There are already cases of diagnosed lung cancer in a stage that we have not observed since the 90s. The same applies to hepatocellular carcinoma. He is often associated with HCV or HBV infection. This was what infectious diseases specialists did. And yet the infectious diseases hospitals dealt in 99 percent. COVID treatment. These are the groups of neoplasms that have been most affected in terms of advancement and the inability to provide reasonable assistance to patients »- emphasized Prof. Rutkowski.
Author: Tomasz Więcławski
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