In May 2020, we reported a significant drop in the weekly rate of routine cancer screenings. At that time, there was a 94% decrease in breast cancer screenings, an 86% decrease in colon cancer screenings, and a 94% decrease in cervical cancer screenings. In July 2020, our follow-up study showed weekly screening rates for these three cancers were on the rise but had not yet reached pre-pandemic levels, remaining 29%-36% lower than their pre-COVID-19 levels.
Since then, many organizations have reinvigorated their efforts to encourage patients to reschedule missed screenings and to keep existing preventive appointments. Looking at screenings for March 2020 through March 2021, total cancer screenings are still lower than historical baselines. Breast cancer screenings were 13% below historical averages, colon cancer screenings were 25% below, and cervical cancer screenings were 21% below. These rates equate to an estimated 382,000 missed breast cancer screenings, 249,000 missed colon cancer screenings, and 94,000 missed cervical cancer screenings from March 2020 to March 2021. These missed screenings continue to raise concern of an increase in later stage cancer diagnoses with potential poorer prognosis. While our findings suggest the gap is decreasing, continued diligence is needed to make up for the missed screenings.
