Do not postpone a doctor’s visit during the corona crisis if in doubt about a lump or strange spot on the skin. That appeal is made by cancer expert Thijs Merx in De Volkskrant. The number of cancer diagnoses has fallen sharply in recent weeks. This decrease is strongest for skin cancer, a form of cancer that mainly affects the elderly.
Merx, head and neck oncological surgeon at Radbou UMC, is concerned about this decrease. The consequence of this is that new tumors are only detected at a later stage. “That could have major implications for treatment and patient survival.”
Population Survey
Normally 3,500 people are diagnosed with cancer every week, but since the end of February, the number of diagnoses has fallen by 30 percent. This is evident from figures from the Dutch Cancer Registry. Doctors see a connection with the corona crisis, which means that patients are less likely to go to the doctor. In addition, all population screenings were suspended in mid-March. As a result, the number of referrals must decrease so that more capacity is available in hospitals for care for corona patients. But last year those population screenings diagnosed cancer in more than 31 thousand people. So it is important to be alert right now.
Video consultation
Video and telephone consultations with the GP are currently increasing. Is that a good alternative to have a lump or strange spot checked? According to Merx not: “You have to see a skin tumor, and you have to feel a lump in the breast.”
Source: Volkskrant
