Fears over falling cancer diagnostics rates
Aussies are being urged to see their GPs following steep drops in testing during COVID-19 crisis
Nine of Australia’s leading cancer groups have reported sharp falls in scans, tests and diagnostics during the pandemic, and they’re urging patients to see their GPs for any symptoms.
Figures released by the Cancer Council show 149,000 fewer diagnostic procedures for breast, bowel, lung and prostate cancers in the first nine months of 2020 versus the same period the year before.
The ‘New Normal, Same Cancer’ campaign is aimed at encouraging Australians to see their GPs with symptoms, no matter how mild.
The groups report that compared to the same period in 2019, between January and September last year there were:
