Campaigning for Cancer, based in Bryanston, says the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the treatment and diagnosis of cancer in South Africa is nothing short of catastrophic.
The organisation gathered together a number of stakeholders to discuss access to cancer treatment and diagnosis challenges during and
post-Covid-19 in a virtual session on 9 March.
CEO of Campaigning for Cancer Lauren Pretorius led a discussion with chair of the SA Medical Association, Dr Angelique Coetzee and past chair of the SA oncology consortium and specialist oncologist, Dr Waldemar Szpak.
Pretorius said, “It is probable that patients with well-recognised red flag symptoms, such as a new lump or rectal bleeding, will continue to present to primary care. With Covid-19 at the forefront, however, vague cancer symptoms such as fatigue, change in bowel habits and weight loss might be dismissed by the patient as trivial
She said that patients are reluctant to visit the doctor because of fear of interacting with others, limited capacity to use video and a concern about wasting the doctor’s time.
“WHO found that globally, in 122 of 163 countries, noncommunicable disease services had been disrupted and that one in three countries in the European Region had partially or completely disrupted cancer services with some countries experiencing a 90 per cent drop in cancer diagnosis,” she added
Coetzee said that already-existing cancer challenges will be exacerbated by the impact of Covid-19.
Other challenges include the fact that resources are not readily available to catch up, patients may continue to delay healthcare in the longer term, the pandemic may disproportionately affect provinces with already low coverage and financial limits may also come into play.
“Often cancer is further progressed when it is detected with less favourable outcomes,” said Coetzee.
Szpak said that the flood of patients to hospitals and clinics can also mean that medical practitioners easily miss things. He also highlighted the lack of progress in screening as a major shortfall.
He was shocked to see the initial closure of two Durban-based hospitals at the start of the pandemic, meaning little investigations for cancer patients and a delay in elective procedures.
He also witnessed cancer patients losing their jobs and having to move to the public sector for treatment, sometimes restricting the medications they have access to.
Pretorius said that while cancer treatment remains a priority in the healthcare system, as healthcare becomes increasingly occupied with caring for patients with Covid-19, those patients will inevitably take precedence.
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