New American Cancer Society report finds favorable, unfavorable trends during COVID-19

Editor's Note

The American Cancer Society, on May 2, announced new research that discovered both favorable and unfavorable changes in major cancer risk factors, preventive behaviors and services, and screenings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the favorable side, smoking, physical inactivity, and heavy alcohol consumption declined, and human papillomavirus vaccination and stool testing for colorectal cancer screening increased.

On the unfavorable side, obesity increased and fruit consumption and cervical cancer screening decreased.

In addition, disparities by racial/ethnic and socioeconomic status persisted.

Favorable and unfavorable trends were evident during COVID-19 that must be monitored as more years of data are collected, the authors say.