Shameful motive so many younger individuals are being identified with late-stage colon most cancers

A record number of young people are being diagnosed with late-stage colon cancer due to disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, new findings suggest. 

The study found the number of patients diagnosed with the killer disease was three times lower during the pandemic, meaning thousands of cancers were missed and allowed to spread and worsen.

The pandemic led to hospitals cutting staff due to decreased patient volumes and financial pressures and people postponed seeking care due to factors, including fear of infection and changes in healthcare access.

Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, can also play a role in people not getting diagnosed soon enough, the study found.

A team led by investigators at the University of Puerto Rico went about assessing the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria and the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions on colon cancer diagnoses at all ages. 

After analyzing 2012–2021 data from the Puerto Rico Central Cancer Registry – which has been collecting information on all cancer cases diagnosed and treated in Puerto Rico since 1950 – they discovered that during these events, rates of CRC diagnoses dropped during and shortly afterwards.

However, late-stage diagnoses eventually exceeded expectations, suggesting that limited access to cancer screening services due to these disasters likely hindered timely CRC diagnoses.

A previous study by the American Cancer Society found that late stage diagnoses across the board were 7 percent more likely in 2020 and that communities of color were particularly hard hit. 

They noted that, with nearly two million new cancer diagnoses each year, these diagnostic delays could result in tens of thousands of additional deaths and millions of dollars in added health care costs.

If colon cancer is detected and treated in its early stages, the five-year survival rate is approximately 90 percent, while it is around 60 percent if it is diagnosed in its advanced stages. 

The cost of treatment also dramatically increases, with early-stage colon cancer costing around $40,000 to treat, while advanced stages can exceed $300,000. 

Colon cancer diagnoses are on the rise among younger adults aged 15 to 34 years.

In a separate study also published today investigating this trend, Dr Arvind Trindade from Rutgers University School of Medicine calls it ‘worrisome’.

He led a recent body of research investigating the rise of colon cancer among younger people and his hope is that his findings will help doctors to form a more effective approach. 

He concluded: ‘Heightened awareness of this trend is necessary when evaluating younger patients with possible corresponding symptoms.’

In the University of Puerto Rico study investigating disasters and their knock-on effects, the researchers noted that during these events medical services may be delayed or inaccessible due to damaged infrastructure, overburdened health care facilities, or shortages of medical staff. 

This can lead to late diagnoses, interruptions in treatment, and an overall worsening of survival and other health outcomes for patients. 

The team found that from 2012–2021, a total of 18,537 residents received a first-time diagnosis of CRC. 

In the month the hurricanes struck, 161.4 CRC cases would have been expected in the absence of any interruption, but instead, only 82 cases were diagnosed.

After a slight upward trend, there was a second decline following the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. 

In April 2020, the observed number of CRC cases was 50, but the expected number of cases without interruptions would have been 162.5.

By the end of the study, the estimated numbers of patients with early-stage CRC and those aged 50–75 years (the recommended screening age range) did not reach expected numbers. 

Meanwhile, numbers of patients with late-stage CRC and those outside the recommended screening age range exceeded expected numbers.

Commenting on the findings, co–lead author Tonatiuh Suárez-Ramos, MS said: ‘These findings suggest that limited health care access during these events may have delayed cancer detection and may have worsened health outcomes. 

‘This issue is especially critical in Puerto Rico, since the health care system already faces important challenges.’

Meanwhile, Dr Yisel Pagán-Santana, who also worked on the study, said the findings will help develop ‘more adaptable and resilient strategies to ensure the continuity of essential care.’

The team’s hope is that the research will help governments in other regions facing similar challenges to push through policies to help strengthen health care systems. 

Senior author Dr Karen J. Ortiz-Ortiz concluded: ‘By evaluating the impact of events like hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic, we hope to start the conversation about long-term solutions to improve cancer care coordination, reduce health disparities, and ensure continued access to care.

‘Ultimately, our goal is to help people live longer, healthier lives by making health care systems more resilient and accessible, even in times of crisis.’

Scientists found that the pandemic lockdowns lead to much higher levels of inflammation in people’s bodies.

It’s thought that the lack of exposure to common germs weakened our immune systems, leaving us more vulnerable to infections and diseases.

Researchers in the Netherlands tracked 1,800 people before, during and after the draconian measures, which also included school closures and mask mandates, were imposed.

Lab tests showed that before the lockdowns, patients exposed to a variety of bacteria and viruses generally had low levels of inflammation in their bodies.

But after the measures were imposed and people were forced to stay home, lab tests showed that exposure to bacteria or viruses lead to ‘hyperinflammation’.

Experts said the high levels of inflammation could lead to people suffering from more severe symptoms in response to common infections.

Dr Mihai Netea, the physician who led the study, said: ‘In our daily lives, we are constantly exposed to various mico-organisms. This helps train our immune system, teaching it to recognize which micro-organisms are dangerous and which are harmless.

‘During the lockdown, we missed that interaction because everyone stayed home and avoided each other. As a result, during and immediately after the lockdown periods, immune cells exposed to micro-organisms displayed a less well-regulated response, predisposing to hyperinflammation.’

In the US, lockdowns were decided by state, with Democrat states like New York and California heading into the restrictions much faster than their Republican counterparts.