Skin Cancer Diagnosis Delays Caused by Lockdowns Led to 12,000 Years of Life Lost

University College London (UCL) analysed records from more than 50,000 patients across Europe, including the U.K., and calculated how many people’s cancer would have progressed from one stage owing to delays in beginning or continuing treatment.

Both screening services and treatments were disrupted in 2020 and 2021 by lockdown restrictions, staff shortages and fear of infection.

The team who worked with the University of Basel, in Switzerland, estimated that around 17% of people progressed to a higher stage of cancer in 2020-2021, owing to delays in diagnosis or treatment of two to three months or longer.

It equates to more than 12,000 years of life lost in Britain and to more than 100,000 years of life lost across Europe....<<<Read More>>>...