Fear of contracting the novel coronavirus due to the ongoing viral pandemic may make you hesitant to seek the medical care you need.
However, when it comes to some chronic and serious illnesses, particularly cancer, delaying treatment—even if only briefly—can be extremely dangerous and may lead to fatal outcomes, according to a review of 34 studies published online on November 4, 2020, by the BMJ. In this review, researchers assessed the impact and risks of treatment delays on survival among more than a million individuals diagnosed with bladder, breast, colon, rectal, lung, cervical, or head and neck cancer in the context of COVID-19. They found that every four-week delay in treatment, whether it involved surgery, radiation therapy, or medications like chemotherapy or immunotherapy, was associated with an increase in the likelihood of death during the study period ranging from 6% to 8%. Some researchers have indicated that delays of up to eight weeks or twelve weeks in receiving treatment have already increased the risk of death. For example, women who delayed breast cancer surgery by eight weeks faced a 17% increased risk of death, while those who postponed surgery for twelve weeks experienced a 26% increase. Therefore, consider that there are many unavoidable reasons that may lead to a delay in cancer treatment, such as not being strong or brave enough to undergo procedures or to commit to a treatment center. However, if there is no valid reason to delay treatment, it is best to seek care as soon as possible.
