Experts in oncology continue to emphasise the importance of early cancer diagnostics. Modern and effective methods are needed to detect cancer before its symptoms develop. Learn how to detect cancer.
People of any age can develop cancer. And there are plenty of methods used for cancer detection. The majority of those tests are painless, non-invasive and do not require hospitalisation. Scientists continue to work on new diagnostic methods that are easier, more accurate, and able to simultaneously detect several types of cancer. It is extremely important, because reliable cancer diagnostics have a real influence on the prognosis.
The Importance of Cancer Detection
The cancer development is a long-term process. In some cases, it may take even several years. Initially, the anomalies do not cause any symptoms. You feel well, and results of basic blood tests do not deviate from the norm. You also do not have any problems with undertaking your regular activities.
First signals of the neoplastic disease are frequently unspecific and not very pronounced. You may not associate them with serious disease processes, and thus disregard them. This is the main cause of not seeing a doctor. Meanwhile, cancer continues to develop, causing many irreversible damages in the body. Only then, cancer sings appear, making you feel unwell and unable to function normally. Unfortunately, at this stage the neoplastic disease is already difficult to treat.
Your chances for recovery are much higher when the cancer is detected at an early stage, as then doctors have more options for conducting effective treatment. Frequently, it is less invasive and burdening for the patient, as well as associated with lower costs.
The early diagnosis means a chance for the complete recovery, longer life and avoidance of cancer complications. This is why so much emphasis is placed on importance of detecting cancer before the symptoms develop.
How to detect cancer?
There are several ways to detect cancer. If you have no ailments, you should have screening tests done. They are used to evaluate your health, but they can detect cancer at its pre-clinical stage. Positive results of tests of this type are an indication for further, more detailed diagnostic. You should undergo screening tests on a regular basis.
Does cancer show in blood tests?
Blood tests belong to an assortment of useful diagnostic tools. With the modern tests, tumour markers and tumour genetic material can be detected. They include:
- A complete blood count, that may be useful in diagnosing certain cancers, like leukaemia and lymphoma, by demonstrating abnormal levels of normal blood cells, or abnormal cells
- Blood protein testing, to determine presence of of abnormal immunoglobulins (proteins of the immune system) in blood. This test is used to diagnose a cancer of blood called multiple myeloma.
- Circulating tumour cell tests, finding cells that became separated from the primary tumour and are now circulating in the bloodstream. Such cells contribute to metastasis. The scientists are of the opinion that in the nearest future they will enable the cancer diagnosis at a very early stage.
Can cancer be detected in urine?
Modern technologies enable detecting of cancer biomarkers in urine. This is particularly useful for early detection of certain cancers of the bladder. The conducted tests include urine tumour maker and urine cytology. In this second method, urine is analysed under a microscope for presence of cancer cells. Apart from cancers of the bladder, the urine may contain remnants of other cancers, for example, kidney, cervical, or prostate cancer. However, usefulness of these tests as a routine screening method has not been proven, because they are not sufficiently reliable.
Laboratory and genetic tests
Basic laboratory tests (e.g., complete blood count) are useful in evaluation of the overall body condition.
The results may reveal worrying signals that are an indication for further diagnostics.
Cancer detection at early stages is possible with more advanced tests. Doctors usually expand laboratory diagnostics with:
- tumour markers,
- genetic testing.
Tumour markers are substances (proteins, hormones, and enzymes) which levels increase significantly when the neoplastic process is in progress in the body. They may be present in blood, but also in urine or in body fluids (e.g, saliva). The genetic tests allow finding those mutations in genes that significantly increase a risk of the cancer development. Those tests are also used to verify presence of cancer cells or DNA in the analysed material (e.g., in prostate secretions or in blood).
Diagnostic imaging and endoscopy
Doctors also order imaging scans to detect cancer. They help to find suspicious lesions in tissues, but it is more than just that. These methods show the tumour location, size and extent. Imagining methods for cancer detection include:
- mammography,
- ultrasound scan,
- computed tomography (CT),
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
- X-ray scans (X-ray),
- positron emission tomography (PET),
- scintigraphy.
Some cancers can be detected with endoscopic scans. During this examination, a special tool with a camera is inserted into a selected area of your body. This way, the tissues can be examined thoroughly and, if necessary, material can be sampled for further tests. The procedures used in cancer diagnostics include gastroscopy (examining the gastrointestinal tract), bronchoscopy (viewing airways in lungs), and colonoscopy (checking the larger intestine).
Biopsy and histopathological examinations
The histopathological examination is the final test confirming the neoplastic disease. For this purpose, a biopsy must be performed first. A doctor collects cellular material from an abnormal tissue and evaluates it thoroughly under a microscope. This way, cancer can be detected and its type and characteristics are determined. The latest version of this procedure is the liquid biopsy. This test is used to search for cancer cells (or fragments of their DNA) in blood or other body fluids.
Self-detection as method of cancer detection
You can perform some tests for cancer detection yourself at home. Anomalies found this way do not necessarily mean that you have cancer. However, they are an indication for further diagnostics.
In the case of women, a breast self-exam is a basic method for early cancer diagnosis. It helps to detect the tumour before other symptoms of the disease develop. The examination should be performed once a month. Men should examine their testicles with the same frequency.
There are also simple diagnostic tests available, for which you yourself collect the material. Then, you place it on a test plate and interpret the result, or send the sample to a laboratory. The tests available in the market include procedures for detection of:
- occult blood in the stool (to diagnose the large intestine cancer),
- human papillomavirus (to determine a risk of rectal and cervical cancer).
Works on further tests for home use are continued, as such methods will allow to detect cancer at an early stage (or a risk of its development) in a simple way.
What is the best scan to detect cancer?
The best method for cancer detection depends on its type. Usually, diagnostics consist of several tests, from the most simple through to more advanced and invasive. Imaging scans are of particular significance, because they confirm presence of lesions. However, only histopathological examination gives a certain result.
Can a MRI show cancer?
Magnetic resonance imaging is frequently used in cancer diagnostic. It is used to obtain pictures of the anatomy and to observe organs in the body in all planes. This way, a doctor can detect a tumour, observe its size and precise location, and then make an initial diagnosis.
How long can you live with untreated cancer?
A single and clear answer to this question is not possible, as the survival depends on the cancer type, your overall health status, and individual predispositions. Cancer usually develops for many years, but in some cases, the disease may progress very fast, shortening the survival length to just a few months. However, left untreated, cancer may spread to other organs and parts of your body. The early diagnosis and initiation of treatment are a chance for longer life.
You need to be aware that you may get cancer and not know about it. At the initial stage, the neoplastic disease usually does not cause any symptoms. The anomalies can only be detected by tests and scans. Modern methods are effective even when lesions are small. The key diagnostic tools include laboratory blood tests, genetic testing, diagnostic imaging, and histopathological examinations. However, you should not forget about regular self examination. Early detection of cancer means a greater chance for recovery.