Kim Praitano, Florida Senior State Director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), penned an opinion piece emphasizing the critical importance of early cancer screenings in Florida. She highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant decrease in these essential screenings, causing a rise in later-stage diagnoses and poorer health outcomes. Praitano specifically noted that breast cancer screenings were down 87% and cervical cancer screenings down 94% during the pandemic's early months, according to ACS data.
The article explains that consistent screenings for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers are vital for early detection, which substantially improves survival rates. These three cancers are highlighted as among the most common that can be caught early. Praitano stressed, 'Getting recommended cancer screenings is one of the most effective ways to detect cancer early, when treatment is most likely to be successful.' The drop in screenings from March to June 2020 led to an estimated 9.4 million missed cancer screenings across the U.S.
To combat this issue, Praitano advocates for Florida lawmakers to pass House Bill 1561, legislation designed to enhance access to life-saving cancer screenings. This bill aims to reduce existing barriers to care, thereby enabling more Floridians to detect cancers earlier. She underscores that early detection can transform a potentially deadly diagnosis into a manageable condition, urging individuals not to postpone recommended screenings.
