People are going for cancer screening more often again
After people in Baden-Württemberg rarely went for cancer screening during the coronavirus pandemic, the number of examinations has largely returned to normal in the first few months of this year, according to a study.
As the health insurance company AOK and the Baden-Württemberg Cancer Association announced in Stuttgart on Tuesday, there were even increases in some examinations in the first quarter of 2023 compared to 2019. "After missing screening tests during the pandemic, insured people are now apparently catching up on what they missed," said Sabine Knapstein, a doctor at AOK Baden-Württemberg, according to a statement.
This is a welcome development, said Ulrika Gebhardt, Managing Director of the Cancer Association. "The earlier cancer or precancerous stages are detected, the better the chances of recovery," she said. The appeal to not become careless and to attend appointments for early detection still applies.
According to the Scientific Institute of the AOK (WidO), the number of mammography examinations for the early detection of breast cancer in the first quarter of 2023 was 4.9 percent higher than in the first quarter of 2019. Examinations for the early detection of prostate cancer increased by 3.2 percent. In contrast, the number of examinations for the detection of cervical cancer fell.
According to the WidO, the number of colonoscopies as part of examinations for the early detection of bowel cancer has increased particularly strongly. Here, the number rose by 27.9 percent. However, according to the experts, the increase is probably also due to the fact that men aged 50 and over have been allowed to undergo the examination since 2020.
According to the AOK, the data relates to all people with statutory health insurance in Baden-Württemberg. With around 4.6 million policyholders, AOK is the largest health insurance provider in Baden-Württemberg.
This increase in cancer screenings might potentially decrease the number of advanced disease cases, leading to improved health outcomes for individuals with health insurance. Implementing regular health insurance-covered screenings for diseases like breast, prostate, and bowel cancer is crucial for early detection, which significantly improves survival rates.
Source: www.dpa.com
