PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION

On World Cancer Day, commemorated on February 4, 2020, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned of the dangers of interrupting cancer treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic and called on the countries of the Americas to guarantee diagnosis and therapies. The organization indicated that in the next two decades, the burden of cancer will increase by approximately 60%, with a major impact on health systems and communities. It called upon the countries in the region to drive measures in this area. 

“If measures are not taken to prevent and control cancer, the number of people who will be diagnosed with cancer is expected to increase by 55%, which means approximately 6.23 million people by 2040, in the Region of the Americas,” warned the PAHO.

The organization explained that cancer is the second leading cause of death in Latin America, highlighting that approximately 4 million people were diagnosed with this disease last year. It also reported that 1.4 million died from this disease and that those most affected are the elderly and the very young.

According to the PAHO, alterations and interruptions in cancer treatments were largely due to the cancellation of elective medical procedures, the interruption of services, the decrease in demand due to isolation, and the need to redistribute resources in the fight to curb the spread of COVID-19.