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The Importance of Early Detection: How Regular Screening Saves Lives
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The Importance of Early Detection: How Regular Screening Saves Lives


The goal of early cancer detection is to identify patients with symptoms as soon as possible to enable effective treatment. Prolonged delay or inaccessibility of cancer therapy lowers survival rates, increases treatment difficulties, and raises health care expenditures. Early diagnosis improves cancer outcomes by delivering treatment at the earliest feasible stage, making it an important public health approach in all settings.

Only a few diseases and diagnoses can elicit such a strong emotion as cancer; one aspect contributing to this has been the age-old stigma that cancer is unpreventable and inevitable. Modern medicine, on the other hand, has demonstrated its ability to mitigate this effect. With the introduction of interventional radiology, MRI scans, and newer diagnostics, not only cancer specialists, but even patients, can detect cancer early. 

Most Commonly Diagnosed Cancer

Based on research and statistics, there are approximately 200 different types of cancer that are common worldwide. The most common types of cancer are oral cavity & pharynx, breast cancer, bladder cancer, leukemia, liver cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, melanoma, and lymphoma (Non-Hodgkin & Hodgkin ).

Methods of Cancer Screenings

Physical screening: A cancer specialist or a trained doctor often performs the examination, which looks for any atypical tumors that could suggest malignancy. To have a better understanding of their genetic potential, some patients are also questioned about their family history.

  • Lab tests: Laboratories use blood, urine, and tissue tests. Confirming a patient's suspicion requires tumour markers and a tissue sample or cytology. Typically, these tests can detect cancer and allow patients to get treatment sooner.       

  • Genetic tests: Because the probability of a cancer diagnosis is determined by the patient's family history and the incidence of cancer in their ancestors, many cancer doctors throughout the world perform genetic tests to fully understand a patient's chances of being diagnosed. Hereditary tests can also aid in the early detection of relatives of patients with certain hereditary predispositions.

  • Mammography: A mammogram is an X-ray imaging technique used to detect early symptoms of breast cancer. This test uses ionizing radiation and is primarily performed on women over the age of forty.

  • Colonoscopy: This test, performed using a wide, flexible tube known as a colonoscopy, allows a cancer specialist to examine the inside of a patient's large intestine for symptoms and signs of intestinal cancer.  A colonoscopy, which relies on technology, should be performed by a reputable cancer hospital near you. 

  • MRI Imaging: MRI imaging is a non-invasive imaging technique used in hospitals to examine inside tissues and organs. Doctors can also utilise MRI imaging to distinguish between cancerous and benign tumours. 

Cancer Screening

  • Early detection: The goal of effective cancer screening is to detect cancer in its initial stage, before the appearance of symptoms. Prompt identification increases the chances of prompt action and effective treatment. Additionally, they help patients choose the best cancer facility.

  • Enhance treatment options: Early cancer detection will enhance treatment options that are more varied and less risky. In the initial stage, cancer can be treated with less invasive procedures, decreasing the physical and psychological impact on the patient.

  • Higher survival rates: Early detection and treatment will enhance the survival rates. A cancer diagnosis in its later stages may be more difficult to treat and have a reduced possibility of a positive outcome; they may also create increased anxiety and mental difficulties in the patients.

  • Reducing spread: Early identification of cancer keeps it from spreading to other parts of the body, and limiting cancer spread increases the odds of successful treatment. Patients should seek therapy at a reputable cancer hospital to obtain the best medicine.

  • Cost savings: Early treatment of cancer may require more extensive and less costly surgery, while advanced tumors may not. This can reduce healthcare costs for people and healthcare systems

  • Quality of life: Early-stage cancer treatment may require fewer intensive and less expensive procedures than treating advanced-stage tumours. This could reduce healthcare costs for both individuals and healthcare institutions.

  • Identification of high-risk individuals: Some people may be predisposed to acquiring specific types of cancer due to genetics, family history, or other factors. Screening can assist in identifying high-risk individuals who could benefit from more frequent monitoring or preventive treatments.

  • Health education and awareness: Cancer screening programs usually include health education and awareness initiatives to increase understanding of cancer risk factors, the importance of early detection, and the availability of screening services.

Screening Guidelines

Following recommended cancer screening programs is crucial. These programs are frequently based on gender, age and risk factors. Regular follow-up enables medical professionals to identify cancer at an early and treatable stage.  Missed opportunities for early detection can arise from skipping or postponing required testing.

Barriers to Screening

Despite the demonstrated benefits of cancer screening, several barriers can prevent people from getting checked. These hurdles include a lack of awareness, fear and anxiety, cost and accessibility, stigma, and mistrust.

Conclusion

In healthcare, every patient wants access to the best resources, support, technology, and so on. SHALBY Sanar International Hospitals provides the best oncological care with specialized treatment for all cancer types.  SHALBY Sanar International Hospital, and its cancer specialist team have treated a variety of medical conditions, including breast cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma, using advanced medical procedures such as biopsies, mastectomy, lumpectomy, and radical mastectomy.

Dr. Archit Pandit, Director & Head of the Department

Surgical Oncology

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