Fears late cancer diagnoses in Victoria because of Covid could cause fatal spike

Cancer Council says there was 30% drop in certain diagnostic procedures and an 18% drop in treatments during pandemic

Thousands of Victorians may have missed out on early cancer diagnoses during the pandemic, potentially allowing the disease to progress past the chance of recovery and causing a cancer spike" later on, the Cancer Council says.

The council's Victorian branch published figures in the Medical Journal of Australia on Monday showing 10% fewer cancer screening pathology tests were ordered between April and October last year.