2022 IB Diploma Extended Essays

more rapid and indefinite loop. This happens due to the lack of suppressor proteins which are

usually present within somatic cells, causing an overexpression of growth factors within

cancer cells (Anthony A. Mercadante, 2022). The out-of-control growth of these cells is what

makes up the tumours found within the body of cancer patients. When a tumour is already

present, the tumour can grow to a point where some cells break off from the primary cancer

site (National Cancer Institute, n.d.), and can enter other parts of the body, creating metastatic

cancer, which is harder to treat. Therefore, the earlier the stage in cancer, the easier it is to

treat, making early diagnosis one of the most important factors determining the course of

treatment for cancer patients. A scientific article by SW Duffy e t al has estimates of “the

projected impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown on breast cancer deaths in England due to the

cessation of population screening”, stating that approximately 1,489,000 mammogram

screenings have been delayed, causing 4,563 cancers to shift from asymptomatic to

symptomatic. Moreover, there is also a projected additional number of deaths is in the range

from 148 to 687 (Stephen W. Duffy, 2022).The number of lives impacted by the delay in

mammogram screenings is substantial and as a result, highlights the significance of early

screening in cancer patients. This can be further supported collation of statistics by Cancer

Research UK portraying difference in 5-year survival rate when diagnosis occurs during each

stage.

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