When the COVID-19 pandemic began, hospitals and health systems cancelled or delayed elective procedures, including screening mammograms. The reason behind this was twofold. First, to protect people from being infected with SARS-CoV-2 and second, to make sure they had proper resources allocated to treat people infected with the virus. However, hospitals, healthcare systems and providers soon adopted strict safety policies and procedures to risk exposure making it safe for patients to come back for elective procedures and screening mammograms.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the perfect time to bring attention to the sharp declines in breast cancer screening due to COVID-19, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Prolonged delays in screening related to the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to delayed diagnoses, poor health consequences, and…
