Ready For The Next Round

Introduction

Cancer screening and preventions through health lifestyles is integral to cancer control and prevention; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic there have been interruptions in the provincial colorectal cancer screening programs resulting in significant reductions in cancer screening, testing and diagnosis, coupled with a reluctance of individuals to seek help when experiencing symptoms of colorectal cancer. It is predicted that this will lead to increased advanced adenomas which are harder to treat and ultimately increased mortality.

Follow up cancer care and clinical trials were also interrupted during the pandemic and a recent study by Canadian and UK researchers suggests that for every month that cancer treatment is delayed, mortality can increase by 10 per cent¹.

The mission of Colorectal Cancer Canada’s ‘Ready For The Next Round’ campaign is to raise awareness on the importance of uninterrupted colorectal cancer screening and treatment and to find strategies for strengthening health system resilience to respond to future system shocks in the delivery of cancer prevention and care.

Building resilience is not about bouncing back to the pre-Canadian system but about evolving into something better and stronger with much more preparedness.

Colorectal Cancer Canada envisions a future with a more resilient health care system that can undertake positive action taking into account the benefits and risks of both the general population and cancer patients and finding innovative solutions to ensure uninterrupted cancer prevention, screening and uninterrupted healthcare.

[1] Hanna TP, King WD, Thibodeau S, Jalink M, Paulin GA, Harvey-Jones E, et al. Mortality due to cancer treatment delay: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2020;371:m4087.

Ready For The Next Round

Colorectal Cancer Canada (CCC) is the national Canadian not-for-profit corporation dedicated to colorectal cancer (CRC) awareness and education, support for patients and their caregivers, and advocacy on their behalf. CCC is comprised of dedicated volunteers, members, management and is governed by a National Board of Directors. An Expert Medical Advisory Board, made up of top healthcare professionals in the field of colorectal cancer, provides counsel to CCC to ensure members are kept abreast of the latest medical advances in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

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Key Activities

  • The creation of a consensus panel with the goal of reducing the backlog in screening, follow-up colonoscopies and diagnostic colonoscopies for colorectal cancer patients and providing recommendations and solutions to increase access
  • The creation of a dashboard with live data on screening uptake and delays, wait times for colonoscopy, wait times for treatment. Surgery and chemotherapy etc.
  • Database to determine unmet needs and positive actions occurring in Canadian provinces
  • Structural/Institutional changes that would make a more resilient healthcare system
  • Develop videos and other materials on the impact of COVID-19 on cancer
  • Produce educational materials on the importance of colorectal cancer screening during the pandemic
  • Launch a social media campaign involving conversations with clinicians to highlight the backlog and addressing potential solutions
  • Dialogue with national and international organizations discussing current best practices and positive actions in healthcare systems
  • Continue to pursue advocacy efforts to create a more resilient healthcare system in Canada

Report from the Ready for the Next Round Thought-Leadership Roundtables on Building Resilience in Cancer Care and Control in Canada

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