​​New ACS research announced March 5 shows both breast and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rebounded from declines during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and surpassed screening estimates prior to the pandemic. However, nearly three years after COVID-19, cervical cancer screening rates remain below pre-pandemic levels, and improvements in breast and CRC screening rates were mostly restricted to individuals with higher socioeconomic status (higher education, privately insured, or Medicare insured). The study is out in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). 

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“These findings are mostly encouraging as the pandemic resulted in widespread disruptions in cancer screening in the US,” said Jessica Star, associate scientist, cancer risk factors and screening surveillance research and lead author of the study. “However, the continued decline in cervical cancer screening is troubling as diagnoses of cervical cancers at an early stage, when they are more treatable, also decreased during the pandemic. Without returns to cervical cancer screening, prevention and early-stage diagnoses may continue to drop and put more lives at risk.” 

“The persistent decline in cervical cancer screening may in part reflect longer-term declines in patient knowledge and clinicians recommending the test,” added Star. “It’s imperative that we continue to advocate for returns to cervical cancer screening and efforts must also address the widening disparities in all cancer screenings by socioeconomic status.” 

Other ACS researchers contributing to the study include Dr. Xuesong Han, Dr. Robert Smith, Elizabeth Schafer, Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, and senior author Dr. Priti Bandi.