COVID delays most cancers prognosis, treatment

I am a COVID-19 statistic — not because of to contracting the virus, but because I was not capable to obtain health care when I necessary it. 

My initially colon most cancers was picked up through a routine health screening 20 decades in the past. Though a shock at the time, most cancers was not new to me. Regrettably, it was not new to my loved ones. I have lost many spouse and children associates to cancer. I experienced surgery and chemotherapy, and thank goodness was in a position to rebuild my daily life and get pleasure from my household, pals, and complete out a effective vocation as an Military colonel.

Considering the fact that retiring from the Military, I have experienced the privilege of getting the CEO of not one particular, but two nonprofits, both performing to be certain and increase the general health and high-quality of life of vulnerable populations. I have had to integrate annual colonoscopies into my way of living, a minimal inconvenience to ensure my health.  

When the pandemic struck and so significantly of the fabric of our lives was disrupted, elective, schedule treatment mainly stopped so that assets could be directed to supporting COVID-19 endeavours. Regrettably, that intended lots of individuals remaining addressed for other health issues like most cancers, cardiac concerns, and diabetes have been at threat of obtaining their health care demands paused or slowed down. Numerous who wanted screenings or experienced health fears both had to wait mainly because appointments were being not offered or they were being fearful to contact a health care service provider.

In my scenario, I was scheduled for my yearly colonoscopy in Could 2020, but my health care supplier was only doing crisis procedures at the time. When my clinic reopened for program methods in July, I named to reschedule and was told the earliest appointment I could get was mid-October. 

When I received my scope, my medical doctor reported he observed a polyp, which is not uncommon. I had had numerous taken out over the yrs just before they could grow to be cancerous, but he was concerned and desired to provide in another physician, educated in certain techniques, to eliminate it. I was scheduled for this treatment in mid-November. Five days beforehand, the company known as me to say that he was remaining despatched to support the COVID-19 surge in El Paso. He confident me I would be his initially circumstance upon his return.