Bitter consequences of the lockdown? Thousands of cancer deaths expected in the UK - danger also in Germany

Corona / New study: British researchers now expect thousands of cancer deaths due to Corona measures. The situation could also be better in Germany.

• British researchers analyzed data from the UK's main cancer centers.
• According to the analysis, thousands of cancer patients could die from the corona lockdown * .
• In Germany there are "serious restrictions " on the clarification and early detection of the disease.

London - British researchers also analyze people's behavior during the lockdown and make an unsettling forecast. According to the corona lockdown * in the UK, around 20 percent more newly diagnosed cancer patients could die of their disease in the coming year than in a twelve-month period. 

British study on corona and cancer: diagnosis and treatment with a sharp decline - thousands of deaths expected

The scientists base these estimates on the sharp decline in diagnostics and the treatment of cancer. The data for the analysis came from important cancer centers in Great Britain. The study found that the number of  urgent referrals for cancer suspected by a family doctor was reduced by 76 percent . The number of chemotherapy appointments also fell by a full 60 percent compared to the level before the lockdown .

Coronavirus doctor's diary: 'We aren't diagnosing many cancers now' - BBC News https://t.co/YmUuEhSPJ6

Around 31,000 people with newly diagnosed cancer died within a year of the pandemic, the analysis found. Due to the decline in diagnostics and treatment, more than 6,000 people could die from cancer more than the average year. This is estimated in the study  published on Wednesday  . The University College London and the research center on treatment data for cancer patients were involved in the research. Including all people currently living with cancer, the number of additional deaths could increase to 18,000 .

Corona has "potential for unintended consequences" - Germany with patient loss

The results of the study showed the “significant potential for unintended consequences” associated with the coronavirus *, wrote the study’s lead author, Alvina Lai of the Institute for Health Informatics at University College, London. The lockdown measures to combat the pandemic can have a negative impact on cancer patients . That is why patients from risk groups have to be recognized and treated more quickly. 

The loss of patients in the clinics is also noticeable in Germany, a cardiologist I expressed concern. However, the task force of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the German Cancer Aid and the German Cancer Society have so far not identified  any supply shortages . "But we are now also realizing that the supply system is noticeably stressed and that the restrictions due to the crisis situation can have negative effects for cancer patients," Gerd Nettekoven, head of the German Cancer Aid, told n-tv .

Germany in the Corona Crisis: “Serious Restrictions” in Cancer Clarification 

One problem, however, was " serious restrictions in all parts of Germany for the diagnosis of cancer and early detection examinations ". Patients would refrain from visiting a doctor more often because they fear corona infection * .

The suspension of such measures is "only tolerable for a short period of time, otherwise tumors may only be recognized at an advanced stage with a poorer prognosis", said Michael Baumann, CEO of the German Cancer Research Center on  n-tv . People should therefore not be afraid to see  a doctor. 

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* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.

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