Should I keep my appointment for cancer screenings or wellness visits?

At first, doctors recommended delaying routine screenings and non-emergency visits to keep people from being exposed to COVID-19. Maybe you missed a cancer screening, such as a mammogram or colonoscopy, or an annual checkup.

But now many states will be allowing physicians to see patients. Clinics have taken lots of precautions to make visits safe. For example, more personal protective equipment is available. You might be asked to wait outside until your scheduled appointment time. And asked to wear a cloth face covering during your visit. 

If you have missed a screening or wellness appointment, then you should call your doctor to discuss rescheduling that appointment. As the pandemic goes on, it might be dangerous to wait too long even for non-emergency visits. If an in-person visit doesn’t seem right for you, consider a telehealth visit.

If you feel sick or have a chronic medical condition, call your doctor and talk it over right away! You should not be afraid to visit a physician if you are experiencing symptoms that worry you. Preventive visits save lives, so getting back on track--safely!--is important.

Last update:  May 9, 2020, 3:00 PM
Science Review: GSN, JAB