SWSPHN has again urged our community ‘don’t neglect your health’ following the release of a new report which shows the number of cancer screening tests performed as part of national population screening programs declined during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report, Cancer screening and COVID-19 in Australia, brings together data for the period of January to June 2020 on the three national cancer screening programs – BreastScreen Australia, the National Cervical Screening Program and the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
See below for more on the Cancer screening and COVID-19 in Australia report
In July, SWSPHN partnered with the South Western Sydney Local Health District, local GPs and emergency department doctors for the Don’t Neglect Your Health campaign video series, urging the community not to let their regular health take a backseat during COVID-19.
Local doctors reassured our community it was safe have regular check-ups, have blood tests and fill prescriptions for chronic conditions, get flu vaccinations and book cancer screenings during the pandemic.
They warned neglecting your regular health or chronic conditions now could lead to serious health issues and worsening chronic conditions down the track.
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SWSPHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, has renewed those calls, emphasising the importance of managing your general health.
Dr McDonald said the AIHW report had highlighted the significant impact COVID-19 had had on breast screening rates, especially during the early months of the pandemic. He said the long-term consequences of delayed screening during the pandemic would not be known for some time.
“Screening for cancer is vital – early detection can increase your chances of successful treatment and survival.
“In terms of managing your general health, your local doctor’s surgery is one of the safest places you can visit. GPs know the importance of infection control and every GP is taking steps to keep you, and every patient, safe,” Dr McDonald.
“During the pandemic and beyond, it’s important to maintain routine check-ups – don’t let little things turn into big things. Don’t put off filling your prescriptions or seeing the GP for a repeat for your prescription. Ensure you keep your vaccinations up-to-date and keep up with any screening or tests recommended by your GP.
“Please, don’t neglect your health.”
According to the AIHW report:
BreastScreen Australia
In April about 1,100 screening mammograms were performed compared with 74,000 in April 2018. Overall, there were about 145,000 fewer screening mammograms conducted by BreastScreen Australia in January to June 2020 compared with January to June 2018.
National Cervical Screening Program
The number of cervical screening tests was expected to drop in 2020 due to the National Cervical Screening Program changing from two-yearly to five-yearly screening so it is difficult to know the impact of the pandemic on the screening rate.
However, data shows a decline in the number of cervical screening tests from the second half of March 2020, which remained low throughout April, during which fewer than 30,000 tests were carried out. The number of tests began to increase in May and rose again in June.
National Bowel Cancer Screening Program
From the data, it appears that the COVID-19 pandemic did not have a direct effect on bowel cancer screening which involves home test kits, sent to eligible participants who then mail their completed test kit for laboratory testing.
Visit the AIHW website to read more
