Colon cancer numbers dropped dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, but that doesn’t mean fewer people have the disease.
In Spain, researchers discovered a more than 40% decline in colon cancer diagnoses, leading experts to worry about the ramifications.
“These are very worrying findings indeed — cases of colorectal cancer undoubtedly went undiagnosed during the pandemic. Not only were there fewer diagnoses, but those diagnosed tended to be at a later stage and suffering from more serious symptoms,” said lead author Dr. María José Domper Arnal. She’s from the Service of Digestive Diseases, University Clinic Hospital and the Aragón Health Research Institute in Zaragoza.