Doctors and scientists in the US are investigating whether COVID-19 might be linked to a noticeable increase in rare and deadly cancers since the pandemic.

A group of medical professionals has come together to research and share data, believing that the patterns seen in their patients suggest a connection between COVID-19 and cancer, according to a report by the Washington Post.

Kashyap Patel, an oncologist in South Carolina and the CEO of Carolina Blood and Cancer Care Associates, remarked on the unusual rise in cases he’s observed, saying it’s unlike anything he’s seen in his 23 years of practice.

Patel, advocating for a national database to study these trends, mentioned that he has already gathered data from many of his patients, indicating a possible link between unusual cancers and long COVID.

Currently, there is no concrete data or definitive studies confirming that COVID-19 has caused an increase in cancer cases.

US doctors are urging the federal government to prioritize this research, as the findings could impact cancer treatment and disease management for years to come.

Douglas C. Wallace, a geneticist and evolutionary biologist at the University of Pennsylvania, stated that the long-term effects of COVID-19 are being underestimated. He highlighted the need for more research on the virus’s impact over time.

Wallace is currently studying how COVID-19 might affect cell energy production and increase cancer risk.