Prof. Iris Lansdorp-Vogelaar, Erasmus MC, moderated the session, which was an opportunity to learn about the impact of the pandemic on colorectal cancer screening activity by comparing the results of key process and early outcome indicators in 2019 and 2020. Dr. Carlo Senore presented quantitative data provided by programs participating in the survey launched by the ICSN Colorectal Cancer Screening Interest Group. Dr. Eleonora Feletto, The Daffodil Center, talked about findings from the International Partnership for Resilience in Cancer Systems (I-PaRCS), and Prof. Nancy Baxter, University of Melbourne, discussed the NIMBLE approach, a conceptual framework to understand the challenges and adaptive approaches taken by colorectal cancer screening programs to face the pandemic. The webinar concluded with an interactive panel discussion with program coordinators of CRC screening programs that have shown an effective response to the COVID-19 emergency.

Slide sets:

Carlo Senore: Results of the ICSN Colorectal Cancer Screening Interest Group Survey on the Impact of COVID-19

Eleonora Feletto: Findings from the International Partnership for Resilience in Cancer Systems

Nancy Baxter: The NIMBLE Approach to Adapt Colorectal Cancer Screening

Dominika Novak Mlakar: Impact of COVID-19 on Colorectal Cancer Screening Activity in Slovenia

Iris Seriese: Impact COVID-19 on CRC Screening – Netherlands

Isabel Portillo: Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of COVID-19 on the Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme in the Basque Country-Spain

Over 80% of cervical cancer incidence and deaths from cervical cancer occur in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). The COVID-19 pandemic led to the disruption of health services, including cervical screening provision, in many countries. This webinar offered an opportunity for the screening community to learn about, and reflect on, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cervical cancer screening.

A keynote presentation from Dr. Partha Basu, Deputy Head of the Early Detection, Prevention and Infections Branch at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), provided a high-level overview of global issues and the possible impact on achieving WHO cervical cancer elimination goals, as well as lessons learned on the ground. The program followed with presentations reporting on local programmes and adaptations to COVID-19 by Jane Matambo, manager of cancer screening services at the Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Dr. Muluken Gizaw, Assistant Professor from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, and Dr. Karla Alfaro, Medical Director at Basic Health International in El Salvador.

Slide sets:

Christine Campbell: The Impact of COVID-19 on Cervical Cancer Screening in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Partha Basu: Impact of Covid-19 on cervical cancer screening programmes in the LMICs

Jane Matambo: The Impact of Covid-19 in Zambia Cervical Cancer Prevention Program

Muluken Gizaw: Impact of deferring cervical cancer screening in connection to COVID-19 The case of Ethiopia

Karla Alfaro: Impact of COVID on Cervical Cancer Screening in El Salvador

This ICSN webinar focused on the results of the ICSN survey assessing the effects of the first wave of COVID-19 on cancer screening around the world. Douglas Puricelli Perin, MPH, ICSN Program Coordinator presented the results of the ICSN survey together with a literature review about the disruptions in cancer screening caused by previous disasters. In addition, Iris Lansdorp-Vogelaar, PhD, Associate Professor at the Department of Public Health of Erasmus Medical Center, and colleagues from the COVID-19 and Cancer Global Modeling Consortium presented their latest work.

Slide sets:

Douglas Perin: ICSN Survey on the Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Screening

Iris Lansdorp-Vogelaar: COVID-19 and Cancer Global Modeling Consortium (CCGMC)

Jonine Figueroa: CCGMC – Breast Cancer

Alejandra Castañon: CCGMC – Cervical Cancer

Veerle Coupé: CCGMC – Colorectal Cancer

Covid-19 and Cancer Global Modelling Consortium: https://ccgmc.org/

European Commission Initiative on Breast Cancer: https://healthcare-quality.jrc.ec.europa.eu/

European Commission Initiative on Colorectal Cancer: https://healthcare-quality.jrc.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/ECICC/ECICC_flyer_March-2021.pdf

IARC: https://screening.iarc.fr/

NCI-Center for Global Health: https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/organization/cgh