COVID-19's Impact on Cancer Care has Been Profound

The UN News services published on February 2, 2021, 'More than a year since the COVID-19 crisis began, its impact on cancer care has been stark, with “50% of governments (having) cancer services partially or completely disrupted because of the pandemic”, said Dr. André Ilbawi, from the World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Noncommunicable Diseases.

“Delays in diagnosis are common. Interruptions in therapy or abandonment have increased significantly,” Dr. Ilbawi continued. "To state it simply, the consequences of the pandemic on cancer control efforts have been profound.”

Amid uncertainty over which COVID-19 vaccine might be most suitable for cancer patients, Dr. Ilbawi added 'that data from ongoing clinical vaccine trials had yet to be published.'

“We do appreciate that cancer patients are being noted in these clinical trials because evidence has shown that cancer patients are at greater risk for COVID-related morbidity and mortality because of their immuno-suppression,” he said.