Cancer Screening Rates Rebound Partially After Pandemic Decline

Participation in cancer screenings has increased in 2023, though some rates remain below pre-COVID-19 levels.

A 2023 analysis by AOK Nordost and regional cancer societies shows a 6.9 percentage point rise in cancer screening participation among insured individuals compared to 2022.
Colorectal cancer screenings saw the largest increase, with participation rising by 13 percentage points, followed by a 6.4-point increase in breast cancer screenings.
Prostate cancer screenings improved by 3.7 percentage points, but cervical and skin cancer screenings remain below 2019 levels.
Experts attribute the earlier decline in screenings to pandemic-related fears, but recent campaigns encouraging people to catch up on missed appointments have shown some success.
Despite improvements, awareness gaps persist, particularly for skin cancer screenings, with only 25–29% of eligible individuals participating between 2021 and 2023.