Quest Diagnostics data shows 46% decline in cancer diagnosis during pandemic

Photo | Grant Welker Quest Diagnostics' lab in Marlborough has handled a bulk of the state's coronavirus tests.

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By Grant Welker

Public health officials have warned throughout much of the coronavirus pandemic people in need of medical care ought to seek it despite worries about catching the virus.

Data from Quest Diagnostics, a New Jersey firm with a large presence in Marlborough, shows why. Diagnoses of six major types of cancer dropped 46% in the early weeks of the pandemic, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in early August.

"While residents have taken to social distancing, cancer does not pause. The delay in diagnosis will likely lead to presentation at more advanced stages and poorer clinical outcomes," Quest's Dr. Harvey Kaufman, the study's lead author, said in the study.

The study warned of an eventual rise in cancer deaths, citing an estimate in June from four British researchers forecasting 33,890 excessive cancer deaths in the United States from people not addressing cases sooner. That number was conservative and includes only new cancer diagnoses, the researchers said.

The JAMA study included six major types of cancer: breast, colorectal, lung, pancreatic, gastric, and esophageal. The study said its findings were consistent with similar work in other countries showing the harm of delaying cancer screenings and similar procedures. The authors urged better planning, including use of technology, to better address delayed diagnoses.