Speaking of physical examination
A lot of people get yearly examination
Many organisations also organise annual medical examination for everyone
However, many peoples physical exams dont reveal problems
But then suddenly one day cancer was detected!
People wonder
Why do they get cancer even though they have no abnormalities in their yearly physicals?
Jin Hong, Director of Physical Examination Center of Hainan Cancer Hospital and Hainan Chengmei Hospital, said that health physical examination is not equal to cancer screening, and cancer screening is a kind of professional physical examination, which applies professional technical means and methods to discover early tumor of the examinee or to obtain the examinees high-risk factors, so as to prevent tumor occurrence. Cancer examination are targeted, sophisticated and in-depth tumour screenings selected according to the age, gender, family history and medical history of the person undergoing the examination.
As a result, cancer is detected even though the results of the physical examination are normal year after year, simply because the physical examination process is less targeted to prevent cancer.
So, whats a cancer examination? How to carry out the examination?
Lung cancer screening - low-dose spiral CT
Low-dose CT scans are an effective method of lung cancer screening and are particularly important for high-risk groups.
Expert recommendations
It usually starts at age 50. Individuals who have a history of smoking for 30 years or more and either still smoke or have quit within the past 15 years are advised to consider a low-dose spiral CT.
Gastric cancer - endoscopy
Endoscopy is the gold standard for a definitive diagnosis of gastric cancer, and other screening tools include testing for Hp infection, in combination with other biomarker tests for gastric cancer.
Expert recommendations
People over 45 years of age, in areas with a high incidence of gastric cancer, those infected with Helicobacter pylori (Hp), those with previous gastric disorders, first-degree relatives suffering from gastric cancer, and those with a poor lifestyle should undergo endoscopy in a timely manner according to their specific medical conditions and doctors recommendations.
Liver cancer - alpha-fetoprotein + liver ultrasound
The accuracy of ultrasound combined with serum alpha-fetoprotein in detecting hepatocellular carcinoma reaches more than 90%, which is the preferred examination method for clinical diagnosis of early hepatocellular carcinoma.
Expert recommendations
People at high risk of liver cancer should undergo ultrasound combined with serum alpha-fetoprotein testing every six months.
Colorectal cancer - fecal occult blood test + colonoscopy
Fecal occult blood test is a common and noninvasive preliminary screening method that can detect whether there is blood in the stool. Colonoscopy, on the other hand, is a method that directly inspects the inside of the colon, allowing for better detection of polyps or cancerous lesions.
Expert recommendations
Screening for colorectal cancer should begin at age 45, with annual fecal occult blood test (FOBT) for both men and women, and colonoscopy once every 10 years, until age 75.
Breast cancer - molybdenum target examination
Regular breast self-examination can help detect breast lesions early. Breast ultrasound and molybdenum target examination are common methods for early breast cancer screening, and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be performed if necessary.
Expert recommendations
Generally, 40 years old is considered as the starting age for screening, and individuals with general risk should undergo screening once every 1 to 2 years, while high-risk individuals may start before 40 years old. At the same time, starting from the age of 18, one should learn the methods of breast cancer self-examination and receive surgical physical examinations.
Prostate cancer - PSA screening
PSA blood test is one method for early screening of prostate cancer. Additionally, it needs to be combined with other physical examination items and related symptoms, such as digital rectal examination and prostate ultrasound examination.
Expert recommendations
The examination could be make starting from the age of 50, for those with a family history of prostate cancer, it can be advanced to 40-45 years old. After the initial screening, if the physical condition is good, it can be considered to perform a serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test once every 2 years.
Cervical cancer - HPV + TCT
Cervical cytology examination (TCT or cervical smear) and cervical HPV virus detection are common methods for early cervical cancer screening.
Expert recommendations
The examination should be generally made starting from the age of 25, and then the screening frequency should be dynamically adjusted based on the test results and other factors. For individuals aged 65 and above, if they have never undergone screening or do not have sufficient negative screening records in the past 10 years, or have corresponding indications, screening should still be performed.
In addition, in recent years, more novel tumor detection indicators have been developed, such as tumor-associated autoantibody detection, gene methylation detection, circulating tumor cells, and circulating tumor RNA. These can also be reasonably selected based on actual needs. Different types of cancer have different screening recommendations, and the choice of appropriate screening methods should be determined based on personal risk factors and recommendations from doctors.
Therefore, it is essential to discuss with a doctor to determine the most suitable cancer screening plan.
How to prepare for cancer screening
Before undergoing cancer screening, there are some necessary preparations. These preparations include:
Understanding family history
Understanding whether there are cases of cancer in your family to determine if you are in a high-risk group.
Informing the doctor of your medical history
Honestly informing the doctor of your personal medical history, including history of cancer and other chronic diseases.
Stop taking specific medications or supplements
Before some screenings, your doctor may recommend that you stop taking certain medications or vitamin supplements, as they may affect the screening results.
Follow the preparation guidelines
Specific preparation measures may be required depending on the specific screening method that will be performed. For example, before a colonoscopy, you may need to perform colon cleansing.
Cancer screening cannot replace preventive measures. Cancer screening is only a part of cancer prevention, and the key strategy for preventing cancer lies in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
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