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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