Missed cancer screenings from COVID flash a warning to life expectancy

Sadly, more than millions of people face a cancer diagnosis each year, resulting in not only substantial loss of life, but also enormous emotional and financial challenges for those affected. If detected and treated at early stages, many cancers are curable. Yet cancer screenings are only widely available today for five types of cancers.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, cancer screenings, diagnoses and treatments have fallen precipitously. Unsurprisingly, the drop in screenings has also meant a sizable drop in new cancer diagnoses. 

Where do we go from here as an industry and as a society? What are the effects of the pandemic on cancer mortality in the short term? And how can we save more lives from cancer in the future?

Read more about the global pandemic’s toll on cancer diagnoses and what it may mean for the future of life expectancy on the Munich Re Life US website. Take a deep dive into the role the life insurance industry can play in producing better outcomes for cancer patients.