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. 2020 Oct 29;6(2):e21697.
doi: 10.2196/21697.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Screening: Challenges and Opportunities

Ramon S Cancino  1   2 , Zhaohui Su  2 , Ruben Mesa  2   3 , Gail E Tomlinson  2   4 , Jing Wang  2   5
Affiliations

The Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Screening: Challenges and Opportunities

Ramon S Cancino et al. JMIR Cancer. .

Abstract

Cancer is a leading cause of death in the United States and across the globe. Cancer screening is an effective preventive measure that can reduce cancer incidence and mortality. While cancer screening is integral to cancer control and prevention, due to the COVID-19 outbreak many screenings have either been canceled or postponed, leaving a vast number of patients without access to recommended health care services. This disruption to cancer screening services may have a significant impact on patients, health care practitioners, and health systems. In this paper, we aim to offer a comprehensive view of the impact of COVID-19 on cancer screening. We present the challenges COVID-19 has exerted on patients, health care practitioners, and health systems as well as potential opportunities that could help address these challenges.

Keywords: COVID-19; branding; campaign; cancer; cobranding; coronavirus; education; health; screening; social determinants; social media; telemedicine; training.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: RM is a consultant for Novartis, Sierra Oncology, and LaJolla Pharmaceutical and provides research support to Celgene, Incyte, AbbVie Inc, Samus Therapeutics, Genetech, Promedior, and CTI biopharma.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Summary of challenges patients, health care professionals, and health systems face due to COVID-19.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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