{"id":5169,"date":"2023-01-19T15:22:08","date_gmt":"2023-01-19T15:22:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pockethealthqa.wpengine.com\/?p=5169"},"modified":"2025-05-13T14:59:34","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T18:59:34","slug":"why-you-should-book-your-cancer-screenings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pockethealth.com\/patient-resources\/why-you-should-book-your-cancer-screenings\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Reasons Why You Should Book Your Cancer Screenings ASAP"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s time to catch up on delayed screening tests.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

COVID-19 threw a lot of things out of gear, and that includes cancer screenings. According to the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), <\/span>422,000 fewer mammograms<\/span><\/a> than usual were performed in the province during the pandemic. In March through May 2020, people in the U.S. missed out on<\/span> 9.3 million cancer screenings<\/span><\/a>, and that was only three months. Of course the pandemic has lasted long beyond those three months, but several years later, many still have not prioritized their missed cancer screenings or they have<\/span> delayed medical care<\/span><\/a>, which can have dire consequences.<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s not too late, though. At the start of this new year, make it your goal to schedule the needed screenings to stay on top of our health. Here are four reasons why.<\/span><\/p>\n

#1: Outcomes worsen over time<\/b><\/p>\n

Catching health problems earlier usually makes them easier to treat, potentially allowing them to be diagnosed at a less serious stage. An undetected tumor can continue to grow and potentially metastasize, which negatively affects a person\u2019s prognosis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With cancer, later-stage diagnoses put patients at a disadvantage and some of the earlier treatment options may no longer be appropriate which has a ripple effect on success rates. For example, The net five year survival rate decreases with every later stage breast cancer diagnosis, whereas with stage 0 and 1, patients have a nearly 100% five year survival rate. At those early stages, the cancer is usually non-invasive and easier to treat.<\/span><\/p>\n

Researchers at University of California San Diego found<\/span><\/a> that when comparing breast cancer diagnoses in 2019 vs 2020 (pre-pandemic and pandemic), significantly more patients presented with stage 4 breast cancer than stage 1. These numbers indicate that we are approaching the tipping point of late-stage diagnoses, but this can be thwarted if more high-risk patients schedule their screenings now, rather than waiting.<\/span><\/p>\n

#2: Imaging facilities can accommodate demand<\/b><\/p>\n

Imaging facilities are<\/span> working hard to <\/span>clear the backlog<\/span><\/a> for screening studies and are eager to help patients get the testing and preventative care they need. If it\u2019s been a while since you\u2019ve seen your primary care doctor, schedule that appointment too. It can be helpful to ask the doctor what screening tests you need, to make sure you\u2019re staying up on current guidelines for what should be done and how often. Ask your doctor about studies like:<\/span><\/p>\n