The COVID-19 pandemic upended the world in spring 2020, and 2 years later, it is still very much a part of daily life. But that being said, the pandemic has taught us several important lessons of life, and one important one of those being, that it has been a wake-up call for increased awareness on the importance of our own health.
Investing in our own health is perhaps the best investment we can make in today’s time. Our health is directly related to our lifestyle. Majority of the mortality burden is on the lifestyle related disease such as cancer. It’s high time that we along with adopting good lifestyle practice, we make “Preventive Health Checks and Screening tests” a part of our lifestyle too.
There are certain prevalent cancers that can be detected early with the help of screening tests. The aim of screening is to find cancer before symptoms appear while the tumor is still small and confined, which is when the chance of cure is the highest.
Common cancers, such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer, can be detected early and have specific screening tests that a person can opt for depending on their age and risk factors by discussing with their doctor. In addition to these cancers that can be detected by screening, some cancers are found during routine medical appointments when a health care provider notices an abnormal lump or skin lesion during a physical exam or when routine blood tests find an abnormality.
What’s the benefit of Cancer Screening?
- Detection at an early stage: Cancer screening helps detect the presence of cancer before it spreads throughout the body, making treatment easier and more effective.
- Better prognosis: The earlier the detection of the presence of cancer, the better are an individual’s chances of survival.
- Cost-effective: The age old saying, prevention is better than cure, applies in the context of financial expenses too. The cost of screening is much less than the cost of treatment. Even if, one does get detected with cancer, early detection also means less treatment and thus lesser expense when compared with an advanced stage disease.
- Less Trauma: Early detection of cancer also means detection of the problem before an individual has to suffer from the symptoms of the manifestation of the disease inside the body.
What all does cancer screening include?
Screening for cancer may involve physical examination, blood tests, radiological imaging and other tests. However, each type of cancer has its own screening tests. Some types of cancer currently do not have an effective screening method. Developing new cancer screening tests is an area of active research.
Some tests that are currently available are:
However, it is important to talk with your doctor about your personal risk of developing cancer. Together you can decide on an appropriate screening schedule based on your age and personal and family medical history.
It is true that many of us are hesitant to schedule cancer screenings for the fear of a positive result. People may sometimes choose to live in ignorance than actually acknowledge the reality of the presence of the disease in their bodies. What is crucial to understand is that ignorance, however, does not cause the disease to go away. Taking steps to eradicate the disease from the body is the only solution to the problem.
Know the Writer:
Dr (Prof) Meenu Walia is a renowned Medical Oncologist (Cancer Specialist) with almost 30 years of medical experience. She is India’s first DNB, Medical Oncologist and has several laurels attached to her name such as the “Bharat Jyoti Award”, “Inspiring Healthcare Leaders—Dronacharya Award” and “Most Influential Women of 2021 award” to name a few. A keen cancer researcher, she is the Principal Investigator of several global clinical trials. Beyond medicine, she is deeply passionate about the welfare of cancer patients and is thus actively involved with several NGOs and awareness activities. She is a charismatic speaker having delivered an inspiring and popular talk on TEDx platform as well as authored a book for cancer patients and caregivers.
“Happiness in The Shadow of Cancer”