Every year, more than 20 million people are diagnosed with cancer globally and approximately 9.5 million will reportedly succumb to this dreaded disease. An important public health effort in the war against cancer is to highlight ways in which it can be prevented.
Increasing education and spreading awareness is one of the strategies that has been used to make people aware of the need to stay away from activities like consumption of tobacco products and other harmful habits that increase the risk of a person getting cancer . In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Ashok Gopinath, Head of Partner Development at Strand Life Sciences, shared, “Early detection of cancer significantly improves the outcomes (5 year survival) of cancer patients. Almost everyone with stage 0 and stage 1 breast cancer will survive; However, the chances of survival are reduced to 30% if detected at an advanced stage.
He further said, “Similarly, 90% of people suffering from bowel cancer will survive the disease if detected early, but only 10% will survive if detected at an advanced stage. If lung cancer is detected in the early stages, 6 out of 10 people have a chance of survival, but if it is detected in the advanced stages, the survival rate is less than 10%. Like most diseases, cancer is often diagnosed when a person has symptoms that substantially affect his or her normal lifestyle. “Unfortunately, by this time, the cancer has often progressed to a stage that is detrimental to a person’s survival, even with access to the best treatment.”
Major advances have been made in “screening” people for cancer early and strict clinical guidelines for diagnosis and treatment modalities have been clarified and established. Dr Ashok Gopinath said, “It is important to highlight that “screening” is a term used to assess risk in a “non-symptomatic” or “healthy” person. A diagnostic test is often conducted after a “screening protocol” indicates an increased risk for the patient. There may be some barriers to early screening. In addition to taking the time to perform routine screening tests, the cost of the tests, and the fact that some tests can be invasive and uncomfortable all contribute to the lack of adoption.
The risk of developing cancer increases with age and hence age is an important risk factor. Dr Ashok Gopinath reveals, “Most screening tests are recommended with a defined “age at risk”. Cancer can affect many different organs and tissues in the human body and so the tests to screen for and diagnose cancer are varied and diverse.
He highlighted some essential cancer tests that help identify the risk of getting cancer:
1. Annual visit to the doctor ,
This is the simplest type of screening test. Visiting your family doctor only once a year requires the required amount of time and effort. Often this will include questioning, discussion, and documentation of family history of cancer and/or any unusual physical features (bleeding, pain, discomfort, etc.). Sometimes depending on age or other risk factors (family history, physical symptoms) one may also undergo a physical examination especially for breast cancer and a digital rectal examination for prostate cancer. Often this visit will include taking a complete blood test and presenting report details to the physician.
Also read: Cervical Cancer: Don’t ignore these 8 early signs
2. Pre-emptive genetic testing ,
It is believed that many cancers are hereditary. This means that there are certain changes in someone’s genetic material that may increase the risk of getting cancer, and these changes are passed from parents to offspring. Tests such as Genomic Health Insights by Strand Life Sciences are once-in-a-lifetime tests that provide information about the risk of developing specific types of cancer and when combined with family history information can enable informed decision-making. Maybe that prevents cancer as well as the implementation of slightly more aggressive monitoring protocols for early detection of cancer. It is important to note here that a “low risk” genetic test result does not mean that one will never get cancer and should continue to follow all cancer-preventing lifestyle habits.
3. Cervical cancer screening ,
The Pap smear is a commonly recommended test for women age 21 and older. The general recommendation is to have this test done once in 3 years from age 21 to age 65. Additionally HPV testing may also be done periodically, usually once every 5 years. HPV vaccination is recently being recommended to prevent and reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in women.
4. Breast cancer screening ,
Monthly physical breast self-examination after age 21, along with the genetic testing discussed above, are important pre-screenings to be conducted for breast cancer. Apart from this, family history increases the risk of breast cancer. Annual mammograms are recommended after age 40 even in the absence of other risk factors. If there are other risk factors it is likely that annual mammography will be recommended earlier.
5. Colorectal Cancer ScreeningR –
It is common for a doctor to recommend a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) once familial and other symptomatic risks are known. This test will involve collecting a stool sample. Additionally, annual sigmoidoscopy may be recommended for low-risk individuals over the age of 45. This screening test may be conducted annually at a younger age depending on increased risks. (below 40). Other tests may include conducting a colonoscopy once every 10 years after the age of 40.
6. Prostate Cancer Screening –
Men at average risk of developing cancer should be screened annually for prostate cancer after age 50. Screening will usually begin at age 50, but for higher-risk men, screening can begin at 45. The main screening tests include a blood test that estimates the levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and a digital rectal examination (DRE) which is a physical examination. Generally, age is the biggest risk factor for prostate cancer in men.
7. Lung cancer screening in high-risk individuals ,
Most lung cancer screenings are recommended for people who engage in high-risk habits, including smoking and consuming tobacco products. Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is an annual screening method recommended for individuals 50 years of age and older with high-risk habits. In general this screening is not recommended for people in the average and below average risk categories.
Dr Ashok Gopinath said, “As is clear from the above brief list of screening methods the protocols and tests vary depending on age, gender, family history, symptoms and of course the organ/tissue that may be affected by the disease Are. In this setting it is important to note that the ideal screening test for “early detection of cancer” should be a single, minimally invasive test that can not only identify the early onset of all types of cancer but also help pinpoint the organ/s. Also be capable. Tissue of origin.”
He concluded, “Such a test does indeed exist, but is currently in various stages of evaluation by several different companies. This test involves testing the person’s blood for traces of tumor DNA/cells. Advances in genomics and the continued reduction in costs associated with DNA sequencing have made this form of detection more attractive because it is minimally invasive and has the ability to discover many types of cancer with just one test. As more and more companies become involved in this field, it is increasingly likely that we will have routine annual cancer screenings in the form of blood tests; And the ability to catch cancer at an early stage increases; And thus medical interventions increase the chances of saving lives.”
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have about a medical condition.
