The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted unprecedented changes to cancer care across the care pathway. Disruptions to cancer services in Australia and internationally have raised concerns regarding potential delays in diagnoses and treatment of cancer, which may lead to more advanced cancer stage at diagnosis and poorer patient outcomes.
To understand where service disruptions have occurred and the types of services impacted, Cancer Australia has undertaken an analysis of data available through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). Results from data currently available have shown reductions in the total number of services during the initial acute phases of the pandemic for select procedures for the cancer types examined, when compared to historical services patterns. This analysis has helped inform future requirements for cancer control and enabled resilience in cancer care planning.
While it remains crucial to continue to provide optimal cancer care for patients, and encourage people to continue to see their health professional with signs and symptoms of cancer to ensure potential new diagnoses are not missed, it is also critical to anticipate the potential surge in cancer cases as a result of the pandemic. This may encompass more advanced cancer cases, requiring more complex and intensive treatments, with consequent implications for the health system and workforce capacity.
As the pandemic continues, the broader healthcare system will benefit from regular reflection on learnings, and consideration of impactful and innovative strategies to overcome challenges as they arise, acknowledging impacts on the cancer workforce, including physical and psychological fatigue and moral distress.
Cancer Australia has strengthened its leadership role in informing cancer control policy and cancer care throughout the ongoing pandemic.