The rate of survivorship has dramatically increased since the 1980s as cancer screening improved and outreach efforts expanded access to testing. But in 2020 cancer diagnoses plummeted because of Covid-19. Lockdowns and medical anxiety forced patients to skip primary care appointments and an estimated 10 million screenings in the U.S. alone. Doctors fear that disruptions in doctor-patient relationships will continue to delay critical care for those who are unknowingly living with cancer, turning one health crisis into another. It's what experts are terming a syndemic — a synergistic pandemic.

In this episode, we examine the personal stories and statistics behind this cancer-covid syndemic. Healthcare administrator Mary Garr talks about the emotional toll of delayed cancer diagnoses and treatment. And Dr. Philip Castle, Director of the National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Prevention, talks about the devastating impact Covid19 is having on cancer survival rates.

The Big Screen is a product of OffScripHealth.

To learn more about rescheduling your cancer screening appointments, visit https://www.preventcancer.org/back-on-the-books/.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.