REVEALED: The COVID-19–Cancer Connection
The death toll from COVID-19 is at 1.2 million people worldwide… and counting.
Government shutdowns, travel restrictions, and mandated mask-wearing might have slowed it down a bit, but it hasn’t eliminated the threat.
But those lockdowns have had an unintended consequence… and thousands are dying as a result—even if they never get COVID-19.
Here’s what you need to know.
Government shutdowns, shelter in place orders, and fear and reluctance to go to medical facilities have led to widespread treatment delays in cancer patients.
We’ve known that the delays exist. What we haven’t known is what kind of impact it’s having on the patients.
Until now.
A study published in the BMJ used data from 1.2 million patients using 34 different studies and evaluating 7 types of cancer. The goal was to assess the impact of treatment delays such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.
Ultimately, the researchers found that a four-week treatment delay for surgery was linked to a 6-8 percent increased risk of dying.
An eight-week delay in breast surgery was linked to a 17 percent increase in the risk of dying.
And a 12-week delay was linked to a 26 percent increased risk of death.
That amounted to 1,400 unnecessary deaths from breast cancer alone in the UK.
Other studies have indicated that delays in cancer treatment due to the pandemic could have caused 35,000 extra deaths.
It’s COVID-19’s collateral damage.
And it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
With estimates revealing that at least 2.5 million people didn’t receive the screenings, referrals, or treatments they needed, you can see how the numbers can start to add up.
I’m all for taking practical precautions to stay safe and healthy, but I’m cannot support living in fear.
You have to use common sense and make sure you’re still taking steps to stay healthy in every way… not simply avoiding COVID-19.