During the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer high-risk gastrointestinal (GI) cancers were diagnosed, with more cases at stage IV compared to previous years. However, 1-year survival rates did not significantly change. The study, sourced from the National Cancer Database, analyzed trends in diagnosis and survival of high-risk GI cancers from 2018 to 2021. Despite a decrease in cancer screening and diagnosis rates during the pandemic, the cancer community adapted to provide quality care. While more patients were diagnosed with stage IV disease in 2020, there was no significant difference in survival curves between years. Future research should investigate long-term survival changes in all cancer types.
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Fewer High-Risk GI Cancers Diagnosed During COVID-19 Pandemic
