COVID-19, cancer care and prevention

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on our society and healthcare delivery in the United States. Importantly, elective procedures and screening exams for cancer have been delayed or canceled over the past 4–5 months raising concerns over the future incidence and outcomes for those at risk or diagnosed with cancer. It is clear to everyone in the cancer field that the earlier we detect premalignant disease or cancer, the better the clinical outcome is for the patient. Most healthcare institutions have now put safety procedures and guidelines in place, which have dramatically reduced the risk of viral spread during encounters in their healthcare facilities. We must now encourage the public and those individuals at high risk for cancer to resume normal cancer screening.