According to research by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, the Covid-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the way cancer patients were treated.
The process from symptoms to clinical evaluations, diagnoses, treatments, and survival was examined.
According to the study, between April and December of 2020, there were nearly 1,000 fewer early pandemic cancer cases, or "missing" cases, than in the previous year.
More people were diagnosed through emergency admission, according to the report.
A significant reduction in the percentage of patients still alive one year after their cancer diagnosis and lower rates of surgery and radiotherapy were other significant treatment-related effects.
An organization funded by the Public Health Agency is the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry.
The registry's director, Dr. Damien Bennett, stated that the "impact of Covid has been stark at all levels" and that what was most striking was "the stage shift.".
People are now presenting with a much more advanced form of the illness, he claimed.
"We anticipated that Covid-19 would have an impact on cancer patients and services throughout the entire patient journey, and we now have solid evidence to support our suspicions.
Our research demonstrates that there has been a shift to more advanced disease, along with about 1,000 "missing cases," with lower rates of surgery and radiotherapy and worse survival one year after diagnosis, he said.
Dr. Bennett attributed that to a number of factors, including the suspension of screening programs, the population's potential for fear and uncertainty, and the limited access to healthcare services.
The reduction in patients arriving with stage one or early disease was one of the most significant findings, he claimed, as it had led to "a move towards more advanced disease.".
He continued, "We need to keep an eye on key cancer statistics to monitor for recovery as well as trends in pathologically diagnosed cancers that have recently shown some signs of recovery.".
Cancer awareness, according to Dr. Bennett, is crucial.
He said, "Your symptoms might not be anything, but they might be cancer.".
If you experience any of the alarming symptoms, you should schedule an appointment right away.
"Avoid waiting. He cautioned, "Don't put it off.
