The Community Oncology Alliance and CancerCare, two national nonprofit advocacy groups in oncology, announced the launch of a campaign called "Time to Screen" that's intended to counter delays reported in preventive care due to COVID-19.
The campaign will allow patients to schedule appointments and learn about the importance of early cancer detection, according to the organizations. It will also provide educational resources, including a toll-free hotline and website featuring information on screenings for breast, colorectal, cervical, prostate, lung, and skin cancer.
The initiative is prompted in part by a study published July 27, 2020, in JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics that showed the number of screening exams for colorectal and breast cancer performed at 20 U.S. hospitals dropped by nearly 90% in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Community Oncology Alliance and CancerCare urge anyone needing to schedule a cancer screening, or wondering if they should be screened, to visit TimeToScreen.org.
