Along with the immediate impact that COVID is having on cancer surgeries and treatments, we're concerned about a tsunami of cancers yet to be diagnosed. Since the start of the pandemic, global cancer diagnosis has seen a dramatic decline. It's estimated to be at about 40%.
In Ontario, from March to December of 2020, nearly one million fewer cancer screening tests were performed compared with the same period in 2019. In Alberta, more than 170,000 tests, including an estimated 40,000 mammograms, were suspended for two months starting at the end of March.
In Quebec, recent estimates predict that more than 5,000 Quebeckers may have cancer without having been diagnosed.
Screening programs help find cancer earlier, when it is easier to treat and outcomes are better. We are concerned that the disruption in screening programs will lead to cancer cases being diagnosed or treated too late. We must continue to encourage people to get screened and cancer systems must plan for the disruptions caused by COVID-19.
COVID-19 has also interrupted oncologic care across the spectrum of cancer care. A survey from the Institute of Cancer Research found that cancer researchers fear that advances for patients could be delayed by almost a year and a half because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Canada, clinical trials were affected to various degrees across the country. These trials can provide access to promising therapies for people with cancer. In many cases, patient recruitment was paused provincially due to assessment of available staff, health care resources and patient safety.
COVID-19 has also undermined public health efforts at disease prevention and health promotion. For example, local public health units have shifted staff and resources to work on COVID. A good example here is tobacco, with large numbers of public health staff who work on tobacco enforcement and smoking cessation redeployed to the COVID-19 response.
Through all of this, governments must lead the response with a comprehensive and coordinated plan of action to address the future burden of cancer in Canada. The response must include all levels of government, the public, charitable and private sectors, academics, policy-makers, politicians and citizens.
The impacts of COVID-19 on cancer control, as well as the increase in the number of cancer cases due to an growing aging population, highlight an increased need for health care services and providers, infrastructure, caregivers, family support and other types of programs and services.
There will be a need for more support for the increasing numbers of cancer survivors. Focus is required on the planning of cancer control programs for prevention, screening, early detection, treatment and palliative and other medical care. Research is needed to help plan for this increase in cancer cases and to identify more solutions for effective treatment and supportive care for those with cancer.
I'd like to thank you for the time you've given us today. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you.
Thank you.