Drop in cancer detection to be part of Covid inquiry as new figures reveal scale of decline
Aontú’s Tóibín said paused screening had ‘disastrous consequences’
The National Cancer Registry Ireland has said there was a huge drop in diagnoses between 2020 and 2021, probably caused by Covid lockdowns.
There were 42,808 caner detections in 2019, but that dropped to 38,120 the following year.
That decrease will form a major part of the Covid-19 inquiry, which is to be established next month.
Detections bounced back the following year to 44,376, figures provided to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín in a parliamentary question response show.
Diagnoses of some cancers more than doubled in 2021 when compared with 2020, the first year of the pandemic, new figures have shown.
Bone cancer, larynx and oral cavity malignancies doubled, while breast cancer diagnoses rose from 292 in 2020 to 500 a year later – an increase of 70pc.
Cervical cancer detections went from 2,241 in 2020 to 3,442 a year later, a rise of more than half.
Figures for 2022 are still being compiled, but will almost certainly show a continued increase in detections.
An unknown number of people died due to delayed cancer diagnoses during the pandemic.
“The massive dip in cancer diagnosis in the first year of the pandemic is deeply concerning,” Mr Tóibin said.
“We have to remember that for much of the pandemic there were cancelled hospital appointments and paused cancer screening.
“This has had disastrous consequences on the health of the nation.
“We know obviously that with cancer, early detection and timely treatment are key to survival.
“Non-Covid mortality during the pandemic and in the years which followed now needs to be a big part of the focus of the Covid inquiry, which is supposed to be put in place next month.”
Mr Tóibin said he would seek a progress update on the inquiry when the Dáil resumes next month.
“The suspension of cancer health care during the Covid crisis needs to be front and centre in the upcoming inquiry,” he added.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil senator Catherine Ardagh said cancer survivors deserve to be treated fairly when accessing financial products like mortgage credit, health insurance or travel insurance.
She made the comments following the publication of research in The Lancet that showed up to five million cancer survivors in Europe are being denied basic financial services.
In Ireland, cancer survivors must declare their previous diagnosis to financial institutions, even if they have been medically declared cancer-free.
Ms Ardagh said: “There are very few people in Ireland that have not been touched by cancer in the cruel and horrible way it touches people.
“Thankfully, more people who get cancer are now experiencing better treatment outcomes.
“However, this latest research shows how cancer survivors face difficulties in getting back to the normalities of life, even after the most positive treatment outcome.
“Part of getting back to normal is having the opportunity to access financial products in a fair way.
“However, when you have had a cancer diagnosis, obtaining products like life assurance becomes much more difficult due to the need to declare the diagnosis to financial institutions.
“This has to stop. The financial system must show common decency and fair access to cancer survivors.”
“The financial system must show common decency and fair access to cancer survivors”