CANCER PATIENTS MUST BE TREATED

Data obtained by Gazeta Krakowska shows that the decrease in cancer patients treated in recent months is as much as 40%.

“The number of first-time consultations at oncology clinics in Małopolska dropped from 1353 in March 2019 to 877 in March 2020. The data for April are even worse. Last year, in April, there were 1283 consultations, but this year only 577.” – writes Patrycja Dziadosz.

Gazeta Krakowska's findings are consistent with what is happening at the Amethyst Radiotherapy Center. In April 2019, 220 patients started radiotherapy here, compared to only 2020 in April 139. The decline is related to the state of the epidemic, although there are several reasons for it. Patients with already diagnosed cancer may have had problems with undergoing diagnostic tests or their planned surgeries may have been postponed. Another part of the patients was not diagnosed at all, because primary care clinics had been operating mainly by telephone consultations since March. This could limit the detection of disturbing symptoms and delay diagnosis. Added to this is the fear of many people before visiting a clinic or hospital. People were afraid of getting infected with the coronavirus, so they postponed all contacts with health care.

– Oncological therapy is a life-saving treatment. It cannot be interrupted, postponed or abandoned, even in such a difficult situation as the coronavirus epidemic. Oncology hospitals have introduced all safety procedures to admit patients. Under no circumstances should you wait. Stopping the process of cancer diagnosis and treatment may lead to disastrous consequences in the form of a decreasing chance of curing cancer - he emphasized in Gazeta Krakowska Marcin Hetnał, MD, PhD, medical director of the Center Radiotherapy Amethyst.

You can read the entire text here  https://krakow.naszemiasto.pl/koronawirus-liczba-pacjentow-rozpoczynajacych-leczenie/ar/c14-7711291