SCREENING FOR EARLY CANCER DETECTION

WHAT IS EARLY CANCER SCREENING?

Early cancer screening is the use of several methods or techniques to detect tumors at a very small age, even when they have not yet shown any external symptoms or have only shown very few symptoms. At this point, the tumor is still localized in one part of the body and has not spread or metastasized to the surrounding or entire body, so the patient has a better chance of being cured.

MEASURES USED:

There are currently many methods of early cancer screening depending on the cost and also providing different levels of accuracy:

1. Blood test for markers:

Each type of cancer will have its own marker. When your doctor suspects you have a tumor in an organ, he or she will order a blood test to look for that substance.

Some cancer risk markers include: AFP (liver cancer), PSA (prostate), CA 72.4 (stomach cancer), CEA (colorectal cancer), CA19.9 (pancreatic cancer), CA125 (ovarian cancer), etc. If the index is high and cancer is suspected, the doctor will advise more advanced techniques to screen for cancer. However, there are cases of cancer where the marker index is still at a normal level.

Marker levels also increase slightly in some cases or benign tumors. For example, AFP also increases in pregnant women.

This test is easy to perform and should be done periodically if you are in a high-risk group or checked if you want to screen for cancer early.

2. Genetic cancer testing - molecular biology: performed when a person has a family history of cancer

Genetic cancer testing, BRCA1, BRCA2 gene mutations should be performed on people whose mother, aunt, sister, etc. have breast cancer in their family.

3. Ultrasound:

- Abdominal ultrasound: detects tumors of the liver, kidney, gallbladder, pancreas, bladder, prostate, etc.

- Vaginal ultrasound: Helps detect early uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts and adnexal cancers.

- Regular breast and thyroid ultrasound for cancer screening.

4. Gynecological examination and PAP: are indispensable tests for women who have had sexual activity.

5. Mammography: should be performed in women from 40 years old. If a woman has a history of breast cancer in her family or an ultrasound shows a breast lump, the age of mammography will be earlier to screen for early cancer.

6. Gastroscopy, colonoscopy: should be performed from age 40 even if there are no symptoms. If your family history has colon polyps, gastrointestinal cancer, the age for screening endoscopy can be from age 30 or as soon as symptoms appear.

If there are polyps, removing them prevents the risk of gastrointestinal cancer.

7. Routine chest X-ray: every year or when there are symptoms of cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath, weight loss, fever in the afternoon,... Bronchoscopy if abnormalities are suspected.

8. CT Scanner, MRI: Accurately determine the size and location of the tumor.

9. FNA (fine needle biopsy): Using a small needle to take abnormal cells to observe under a microscope to detect early breast cancer, thyroid cancer, lymph nodes, moles, etc. This is the gold standard for cancer diagnosis.

TIPS TO PREVENT CANCER:

Should exercise, lose weight, stay optimistic and love life.

Limit red meat, eat lots of green vegetables, don't smoke, limit alcohol.

Vaccination against infectious diseases that can cause cancer: HPV, hepatitis B, etc.

Regularly monitor your health with a specialist when your family has a cancer patient, and have cancer screenings according to the program recommended by the world health organization.

To improve the quality of life and reduce the mortality rate from cancer, we should pay attention to our health and perform regular early cancer screening. Especially if you are in a high-risk group for cancer such as: regularly drinking alcohol, smoking, chronic hepatitis B virus infection, chronic gastritis, multiple colon polyps or family history of gastrointestinal cancer, breast cancer, ... you can have regular screening every 6 months - 1 year.