ASOURCE Navi

Due to the spread of the new coronavirus, the number of cancer screening examinees has decreased significantly compared to before the corona disaster. It seems that the reason is that the number of people who refrain from seeing a doctor because of concerns about infection has increased, but it is possible that the symptoms are progressing unnoticed, and experts warn against excessive refraining from seeing a doctor.

Cancer screening conducted by local governments is conducted to detect cancer at an early stage and reduce the mortality rate. A total of about 11 million people receive it annually, and about 13,000 cancers are found.

　
The Japan Cancer Society, which is conducting cancer screening in various regions, conducted a questionnaire targeting 31 branches nationwide in August last year to investigate the effects of the new coronavirus, and received responses from 29 branches. The cumulative total of coronaviruses from January to July last year decreased by 55% from the previous year. The number of people who have been screened for five types of cancer such as stomach, colon, lung, breast, and uterus (cervical) has decreased since March last year, and compared to the same period two years ago, about 64% in March and about 64% in April. There was a significant decrease, with 16%, about 8% in May, about 35% in June, and about 62% in July. In addition to the suspension of some examinations, it seems that the number of people who refrain from receiving examinations due to concerns about infection has increased. More than half of the branches predict that the number of patients receiving medical examinations in 2020 will decrease by about 30% (about 3.3 million) compared to the average year. If this becomes a reality, about 40,000 cancer patients will be overlooked last year.

It takes 10 to 20 years for cancer to grow to 1 cm in size, but it is said that it takes 1 to 2 years to grow from 1 cm to 2 cm, which is early. After that, cancer cells proliferate rapidly, so it is important to detect them before that happens. The death toll from the new coronavirus is about 8,600, but there are concerns that the number of deaths from overlooking cancer will exceed that.

Keiichi Nakagawa, an associate professor at the University of Tokyo Hospital, said that cancer screening is not an unnecessary and urgent test in the video series "New Corona Virus Countermeasures for Cancer Patients" on the website of the Japan Cancer Society. "If nothing is done, the number of people who will be detected after developing advanced cancer will increase, and the mortality rate from cancer will increase. It is risky to postpone the examination for more than a year, so those who forgot the examination last spring. I really want you to be inspected by March. "

On the side of cancer screening, in addition to basic items such as hand washing, masks, temperature measurement, disinfection of equipment, etc., in order to have a safe and secure consultation, we will carry out reception by time zone based on reservations, etc. , It is said that it is devised to avoid denseness.