The cancer clock is ticking. How many in Quebec are walking around undiagnosed?

(Aaron Derfel/ Montreal Gazette) — When the COVID-19 pandemic struck Quebec at the end of February, Elisabeth Delpy was doubly worried. The 66-year-old retired elementary school teacher was not only fearful of catching the coronavirus, she was concerned she might not gain access to a promising clinical trial to treat her Stage 4 lung cancer.

Sure enough, Delpy was unable to participate in the experimental protocol or undergo radiotherapy because her doctors suspended clinical activities to absorb an anticipated wave of COVID-19 patients that ultimately never hit her hospital. Now the Ste-Adele resident is even more fearful of a second wave.

“But we don’t know what’s going to happen if a second wave arrives,” she added. “Will the government react the same way? Certainly it’s stressful not knowing what’s going to happen.” (…)

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