Scientists say they expect pandemic disruptions would lead to a 2.4 per cent increase in deaths related to the cancer, compared with a scenario when there were no screening disruption, diagnostic or treatment delays.The researchers modelled the impact of disruptions on colorectal cancer cases and deaths in both Canada and Australia.
But they also found that increasing diagnostic and treatment capacities by five per cent to address the backlog could help prevent 350 Aussie deaths. Cancer Council NSW, The University of Sydney,n and The Daffodil Centre were involved in the research. Bowel cancer is the third most diagnosed and second deadliest cancer in Australia, after lung cancer.Severe weather warning for Victoria after wild Melbourne stormAn Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report in 2023 showed bowel cancer screening participation rates had dropped - and also blamed the pandemic.More than 2.6 million Aussies were invited to send tests over that period, yet a huge 1.5 million did not return a sample.