Pages

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The Benefits of Early Cancer Detection

Have you ever been diagnosed with cancer or had a loved one be diagnosed with cancer? Anyone that has experienced this can agree that it is one of the most frightening diagnoses we know today. There are many different types of cancer, even if they all form from cellular mutations. They can be detected at various levels of severity through cancer blood tests in most cases, though there are other tests that may be used to detect cancer cells in a patient's body. While there is no cure for cancer at this time, early cancer detection can at least improve a person's chances of surviving cancer. Here is a look at some of the many benefits that may come along with early cancer detection.

The American Cancer Society has found that there are many factors that can cause certain types of cancer that can be prevented by taking precautionary measures. Tobacco (smoking), obesity, lack of exercise, and exposure to different types of radiation have all been proven to cause cancer. For those who experience those potential problems on a regular basis, early cancer detection can help them see the effects of their lifestyles so they can get out of the potentially dangerous situations. Obese people can make efforts to lose weight. Smokers can stop smoking. The list goes on from there.

It is a known fact that one third of all cancer cases could have been prevented by a change in the respective patient's behavior. This is not to say that these cases are "curable" but rather that the cancer was caused by something that the person had control of. The other two thirds of cancer cases are merely seen as "chance" at this time. Early detection through cancer blood tests and medicine can help people see their negative behaviors early on so they can possibly reverse them and minimize the issues they have with cancer in their bodies.

For the types of cancer that cannot be prevented, it is crucial for the individual to detect the presence of cancer as quickly as possible. If a patient has one of the more common cancers found today, early detection can make all the difference in the person's life. Some cancers at their earliest stages are likely to be treatable and even curable, to a degree. An early stage is considered to be any point that the abnormal cancer cells are still stuck to each other in the shape of a ball or lump. It is common for doctors to go in and easily remove malignant cancer tumors.

It is when the tumor in an individual's body grows large and breaks apart from the original mass that it becomes extremely dangerous. Once the cancer breaks apart it spreads throughout the body rapidly and infects additional organs. Most time it is impossible to stop the spreading when the cancer has reached this stage and the results are usually fatal. Knowing this, it is obvious why early detection is extremely vital to a person's survival rate.

There are many different methods that doctors use to test an individual for cancer, like mammograms (breast cancer), X-rays, CAT scans, PET scans, some forms of microscopy, and cancer blood tests. If you go into medical assistant training in the future, you may learn about some of these in class. Blood tests are very common because of their ease, cost effectiveness, and reliable results. Doctors test the blood for different levels of important cells and substances. If you have any suspicion that you might be at a risk of having cancer, you should visit your family doctor and find the best way to be screened.

No comments:

Post a Comment