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Why Regular Screenings Are Important for Early Cancer Detection
By Raveena M Prakash
Cancer screening tests are significant to early cancer detection in suspected patients, which makes it easier for your immediate cancer treatment and increases your chance of recovery from a life-threatening disease such as cancer. There are some cancer screening tests that help to find out about cancer earlier; this makes it easier to treat and cure cancer while minimizing the risk of getting the cancer into more advanced stages. If you are concerned about experiencing any early symptoms of cancer, planning to get a screening, then read further!
In this article, we’ll discover more about cancer, types of cancer screening tests, the benefits of early cancer detection, and who should get health screenings.
What is a cancer screening test?
A cancer screening test is a medical procedure or an examination often performed on suspected cancer patients to detect cancer before a person experiences any signs or symptoms. The major goal of these screenings is to identify abnormal cells or sometimes early stages of cancer when they are highly curable and treatable.
Types of cancer screenings
There are different types of screenings recommended for people based on their age, gender, family history of cancer, increased risk factors, or lifestyle choices.
Types of cancer and its early detection tests are
Breast cancer
These may include:
- Recommended cancer tests: Mammogram tests
- Who should get checked: Women who are above the age of 40 should consider screening for mammograms once a year. This mainly depends on the risk factors and personal and family history of cancer.
- Major purpose of this screening: Mammograms usually detect breast cancer earlier, even if any small lump or other symptoms start to advance into a deadly condition.
Cervical cancer
These may include:
- Recommended cancer tests: Pap smear test and HPV test
- Who should get checked: Women aged 21-65 should get a Pap test every year. This test can be combined with the HPV test; screening might occur every 3 years for women aged 30-65.
- Major purpose of this screening: These types of detection tests often determine any abnormal or cancerous cells in the cervix that could lead to cancer. It can also detect the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is considered a major risk factor for developing cervical cancer.
Colorectal cancer
These may include:
- Recommended cancer tests: colonoscopy, blood tests including fecal occult blood test (FOBT), and stool DNA test.
- Who should get checked: People who are aged 45 and older should be considered for performing colonoscopy every one or two years, or with an FOBT/stool DNA test, depending on the increased risk of lifestyle choices or risk factors.
- Major purpose of this screening: Tests such as colonoscopy easily detect polyps or abnormalities in the colon that could develop into cancer. With early detection, an early removal of polyps during the screening can prevent cancer from advancing.
Prostate cancer
These may include:
- Recommended test: One of the early detection tests for prostate cancer is the prostate-specific antigen test (PSA) and digital rectal exam (DRE).
- Who should get checked: Men who are aged 50 and above, or people who belong to high-risk groups, or people who have a history of prostate cancer.
- Major purpose of this screening: This test usually checks the level of PSA in the blood; this can be increased in men with the chance of prostate cancer.
Lung cancer
These may include:
- Recommended test: Lung cancer screening test may include Low dose-computed tomography (LDCT).
- Who should get checked: People who are between 50 and 80 with a habit of smoking should consider performing this test, especially if you smoke currently or quit smoking in 15 years.
- Major purpose of this screening: LDCT scans help to detect lung cancer in the earlier stages, even in people who have no signs and symptoms of lung cancer. Early detection is a crucial part of lung cancer because lung cancer is not diagnosed in people until it reaches an advanced stage.
Benefits of early cancer detection
Many types of cancer are easier to cure or treat if you are detected in the earlier stages. Early detection and regular screenings are one of the powerful tools to prevent cancer in high-risk groups. Regular tests can detect cancer and its symptoms early. This makes it much easier to receive better outcomes and improves the quality of lives.
Here are some of the benefits of early screening, these may include:
- Improves survival rates
- Less invasive or aggressive treatments
- Better prognosis and prevention
- Enhancing the quality of life
- Promotes cancer awareness
Who should get screened?
People who are in high-risk groups or have an increased number of risk factors should perform the health screenings recommended for their age and gender. People who belong to risk factors should consider getting screened.
The risk factors may include:
- Age and gender
- Family history of cancer
- History or habit of smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Exposure to natural carcinogens, industrial chemicals
- Genetic mutations
What should I expect during the tests?
The process of cancer tests might vary depending upon the type of tests and type of cancer. There are several tests used to identify cancers such as mammograms and colonoscopies, which require some special preparation before undergoing the tests. The healthcare provider will suggest some instructions to the patients on how to prepare for the procedure.
What’s next if cancer is detected?
If cancer gets detected from the regular health screenings, then your oncologists might suggest further testing and treatments according to the causes of cancer. A cancer diagnosis is often a scary and overwhelming life experience; however, it's important to understand that early detection often leads to early treatment and successful recovery from the deadly disease.
For example, if you are a female and you are having some early symptoms of cancer, which are unspecific or common symptoms of normal diseases, then your doctor might suggest a vaccination for cervical cancer, which is an HPV vaccine, which will help you to prevent cervical cancer.
Consult today
Regular cancer screenings and early detection cannot be ignored. Regular screening tests can identify cancer in its early stages, allow for prevention, increase the chance of recovery, and enhance the quality of life of patients. Regular screenings are essential for better treatment outcomes.
At Oncare, we understand the importance of early cancer diagnosis; that’s why we offer many cancer detection tests at affordable price ranges, including mammograms, colonoscopies, and more.
If you or any loved ones of yours are having any symptoms of cancer or planning to get a cancer screening test, then visit Oncare Cancer Center and book an appointment today! Get an estimated cost of cancer screenings and tests, and don’t wait until any symptoms appear and take charge of your health without wasting time!
Frequently Asked Questions
Cancer screening tests may include several physical examinations, imaging tests, and some lab tests.
- Physical examination
- Laboratory tests
- Imaging tests
- Genetic tests for cancer
Cancer screening might be based on the type of cancer and individual medical conditions. If you are above 20 or older, then once a year or month, you should consult a doctor and perform cancer screening tests. If you are having an increased number of risk factors, then you should consider undergoing cancer screening tests.
Cancer screening tests may include both advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages:
- Cancer screening might find changes in your body that can become cancer eventually.
- Screening tests might find cancer early before you have any symptoms.
- Screening tests help to find out about cancer before it can spread into other body parts.
Disadvantages:
- Cancer screening tests are not always accurate.
- A cancer result might show you are diagnosed with cancer when you don’t have any cancer. This is often known as a false-positive result.
- At some times, you might not be diagnosed with cancer, but in reality you have cancer; this is also known as a false-negative result.
Lung cancer screening is often recommended for people who are at high risk for developing lung cancer because of their smoking habits, age, or other lifestyle choices.
One of the popular cancer screening tests for lung cancer may include
- Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT)