COVID-19 Stopping People With Lung Cancer From Getting Care

Experts said that the number of people with lung cancer who goes to the hospital to get proper care has decreased since the beginning of the pandemic. They believe that the link between COVID-19 and coughing may have prevented these people.

Based on statistics from Cancer Research in the United Kingdom, about 350,000 lesser cancer referrals of all cancer types were recorded since March when the pandemic began. More so, nearly three million people have missed urgent cancer screening.

General practitioner, Dr. Neil Smith of the Cancer Research, said that the lack of cancer referrals is currently the black hole of cancer services right now.

"The biggest thing I have noticed during coronavirus is that fewer of my patients are actually coming forward to tell me about the signs and the symptoms of cancer. They seem to be reluctant to do so," Smith said.

While the situation for other cancer types is improving, the fact that one of the symptoms of COVID-19 is coughing does not help lung cancer patients. Last September, only 60% of the pre-COVID levels were recorded.

Smith added that the NHS guidelines to stay at home also play a role, as well as the reduced access to diagnostic tests and X-rays in some regions, and the reluctance of people to go to the hospital for screening.

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Link Between Coughing and COVID-19 is Stopping People with Lung Cancer From Getting Care

COVID-19 Coughing Link

The NHS identified coughing for two weeks or three weeks, persistent breathlessness, tiredness, and lack of energy are lung cancer symptoms. These are also similar to the symptoms of COVID-19, but there are differences between the two diseases, which is challenging to identify.

According to a report from The Guardian, these symptoms nowadays are commonly associated with COVID-19, which may lead lung cancer patients not to seek appropriate care for them in fear of societal prejudice.

Even healthy people are afraid to cough or clear their throat because other people might think they have a deadly infection. If someone coughs or displays symptoms of COVID-19, they are asked to stay at home and quarantine themselves.

Experts are worried that COVID-19 might worsen the case of lung cancer patients because they end up delaying care and diagnosis. It is crucial for people suspected of having lung cancer to be diagnosed as early as possible to have a higher chance of recovering, said Prof Charles Swanton, chief clinician at the Cancer Research UK and group leader at The Francis Crick Institute.

How to Tell if Coughing Is a Sign of COVID-19 or Another Disease

A cough that lasts for weeks is already producing bloody mucus, changes in phlegm color, and sometimes accompanied by fever, dizziness, and fatigue. According to Science Alert, coughing is most notably one of the symptoms of COVID-19, along with fever, fatigue, and shortness of breath.

But with COVID-19, the cough is dry and persistent because the virus irritates the lung tissue. But as the disease progresses, the lungs are filled with mucus that the patient would feel out of breath, and the body struggles to cope due to the lack of oxygen.

A dry cough does not produce phlegm but produces a barking or coarse sound. It prevents air from entering the lungs as it does not clear the airways. It causes irritation and forceful coughing that can damage the airways further. Prolonged and forceful coughing may cause rib fractures or muscle tears.

Patients must be able to tell when to seek medical help because no matter what sound the cough makes if it does not go away or gets worse, it is best to consult a medical doctor immediately for proper care.