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SANTO DOMINGO.-The awareness campaign “New normality, cancer itself” was launched in the Central American and Caribbean region, in order to motivate and support cancer patients to continue in contact with their doctors and stay in treatment even in times of Covid-19.
According to Gustavo Guillén, AstraZeneca’s Director of Government Affairs, Access and Communications for Central America and the Caribbean, it seeks to promote early cancer detection to ensure timely oncological care. And it was launched globally with the support of representatives from the cancer patient community.
It was developed together with a group of patient organizations globally and aims to increase awareness of the need for people to remain in cancer care services despite the situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, ensuring this shape the cancer care they need.
The impact of Covid-19 has meant that patients diagnosed with cancer have seen their consultations or the continuity of their treatments affected.
In some cases, screening services were interrupted, causing delays in diagnoses, treatments, and an eventual complication of their condition.
A harsh reality
He said that cancer has not stopped during the pandemic.
In 2020, the situation caused by Covid-19 caused a drop of approximately 40% in cancer patients diagnosed worldwide.
This was determined by a study that measured cancer diagnosis rates during confinement, which highlighted that any interruption in the route of cancer care can be detrimental to the lives of patients, so it is essential that people stay in cancer care.
For example, in the UK, there were more than 2 million cancer screenings postponed in the first 10 weeks of the pandemic alone, and in the US, patients who underwent breast cancer screening.
Don’t let your guard down
– The biggest challenge
Cancer is one of the greatest challenges for health systems and there is an immediate need to support patients to be diagnosed and treated; within the framework of health protocols.
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