WHO says there is no evidence the pandemic has led to an increase in cancer deaths

The rise in cancer deaths is due to an aging population and changing risk factors, but according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no evidence that the pandemic has caused an increase in deaths from the disease.

“We have not yet obtained and analyzed population-level data from the Portuguese cancer registries to be able to provide accurate information on the impact of the pandemic in Portugal,” stressed WHO’s Deputy Head of Cancer Surveillance at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Isabel Surzhomataram, talking with Lusa.

The official explained that “according to various available hospital data, there is a decline in cancer incidence during the peak of the pandemic, which may be due to disruptions in the healthcare system due to Covid-19, but also to people’s hesitancy to seek treatment.” left to be diagnosed with cancer.”

The same data also shows that oncology services were suspended during the peak of 2020 – the year of the first cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection – but a WHO study that analyzed patients with digestive cancers shows that in terms of services provided, whether it will provide “a level of medical care similar to that provided before the pandemic,” the specialist said.

The study also “showed no additional deaths” from cancer during the pandemic, Isabel Surjomataram stressed, explaining that, contrary to expectations, the impact of Covid-19 was minimal.

“While we don’t have national data, we see that there were gaps in diagnosis, perhaps with longer delays in the early months of the pandemic, but there is still no evidence that the pandemic has led to an increase in cancer deaths,” he said. emphasized.

The increase in these deaths, recorded in many countries, is “most likely due to demographic changes (aging) as well as changes in cancer risk factors,” concluded Isabelle Surjomataram.

Last week, WHO released estimates of an increase of 35.3 million new cancer cases in 2050, a 77% increase from the 20 million cases reported in 2022, and said alcohol, tobacco and obesity are contributing to the increase.

According to WHO, the rapid increase in the global cancer burden reflects population aging and growth, as well as changes in people’s exposure to risk factors, many of which are related to socioeconomic development.

“Tobacco, alcohol and obesity are key drivers of rising cancer rates, and air pollution remains a key risk factor for the environment,” the organization said at the time.