Aoking it Up in Hesse: Cancer Screenings Surge Past Pre-Pandemic Highs
Looks like folks in Hesse, Germany, are back in the habit of getting their cancer screenings, according to data from health insurer AOK. This revelation was made public on Cancer Screening Day, November 28th, during a press event in Bad Homburg.
Data from the Scientific Institute of AOK (WIdO) states that screening appointments for various cancers, including cervical, prostate, skin, bowel, and breast, are bouncing back above the pre-pandemic levels of 2019. It seems that fear of contracting COVID-19 during the pandemic might have temporarily clouded some people's judgement when it came to getting regular health checks.
Despite this dip, the situation is looking up. In fact, the figure for colorectal examinations is quite impressive, with almost 6 in 10 AOK policyholders taking advantage of it. However, uptake varies quite a bit for other types of cancer screenings. For instance, only about 5 percent of policyholders appear to take advantage of bowel cancer screenings.
Regular health checks play a crucial role in detecting and managing various cancers at their earliest stages, particularly for conditions like cervical and bowel cancer, where uptake varies significantly among the policyholders.
Note: While sources suggest a high utilization of colonoscopies in Germany, they do not specifically address the surge in cancer screenings in Hesse, Germany, according to AOK's data, as detailed in your query.
