Cancer is number one silent killer disease in most parts of developing countries, however early screening can save a life.
Screening tests can help find cancer at an early stage, before symptoms appear. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat or cure.
By the time symptoms appear, the cancer may have grown and spread. This can make the cancer harder to treat or cure.
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Screening can prevent cancer by finding and removing polyps before they turn into cancer. Polyps are small growths that can develop often with no symptoms in early stages of growth.
Screenings allow us to see anomalies in the body that we can then test for cancer. They also help detect early stage cancers, when they are easier to treat.
There are different kinds of screening tests.
Screening tests include the following:
- Physical exam and history: An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient’s health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.
- Laboratory tests: Medical procedures that test samples of tissue, blood, urine, or other substances in the body.
- Imaging procedures: Procedures that make pictures of areas inside the body.
- Genetic tests: Tests that look for certain gene mutations (changes) that are linked to some types of cancer.
However screening test has some risks.Not all screening tests are helpful and most have risks. It is important to know the risks of the test and whether it has been proven to decrease the chance of dying from cancer.
Some screening procedures can cause bleeding or other problems. For example, colon cancer screening with sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy can cause tears in the lining of the colon.
Screening test results may appear to be abnormal even though there is no cancer. A false-positive test result (one that shows there is cancer when there really isn’t) can cause anxiety and is usually followed by more tests and procedures, which also have risks.
Screening test results may appear to be normal even though there is cancer. A person who receives a false-negative test result (one that shows there is no cancer when there really is) may delay seeking medical care even if there are symptoms.