The Östergötland region has so far managed the cancer surgery, but when it comes to newly discovered cancer cases, the situation has deteriorated.

For a number of weeks, mammography was stopped in Östergötland during the spring and early summer.

Nor were women over the age of 70 called.

"Fewer breast cancers detected"

- There are far fewer breast cancers that have been detected due to the screening activities being postponed, at the same time as I believe that many women for fear have not gone to their booked times, says Ulla-Karin Svensson, chairman of the breast cancer association Moa-Lina in Östergötland, a patient organization works for breast cancer sufferers. 

Health director Jessica Frisk says that so far it has been possible to establish cancer care, but it is on the margins that it has been possible to keep waiting times within reasonable levels.

She also does not think that the paused screening activity had such a big impact.

- We did not pause for very long and during this second wave we have not had to slow down.

This spring we did not have medicines and protective equipment, we have had it now so we have been able to drive.

I do not think that time affected so much.

But it is important that you come to your booked surveys, says Jessica Frisk.

20 percent fewer cases detected

This is almost 20 percent fewer detected breast cancer cases in Östergötland in 2020 compared to 2019, says Ulla-Karin Svensson.

At the same time as reports from RCC, the Regional Cancer Center in collaboration, show that cancer care in Sweden has been postponed due to the pandemic.

- This will affect the total availability of surgery in Sweden and not only during this year 2021, but also 2022. We will not solve this quickly and easily.

It will take time before we solve this issue, says Jessica Frisk.

In other counties in Sweden, the regions have been forced to postpone cancer operations, this is not yet the case within the Östergötland Region.

- Being able to maintain emergency operations and cancer surgery is, as I see it, very important and I hope that you continue to succeed with it.

But it is clear that we can end up in a similar situation, no one knows where the pandemic is going and there are very many patients in it, with great care needs, says Ulla-Karin Svensson.

How big is the risk that we will be forced to do the same in Östergötland?

- I would say that it is not huge, but it depends entirely on how the covid situation develops and what happens otherwise.

If we were to have other major events, it is clear that it will affect, says Jessica Frisk.