Cancer Screening and Prevention

Cancer screening and prevention is always critical, but during COVID-19 we are all concerned about our health especially the acute changes, and we all want to protect ourselves. With the emphasis on social distancing it is hard to think about any health concerns except how can I keep myself and my family safe to prevent us from getting this terrible virus. Unfortunately, that keeps us from taking care of other health issues that may be developing, and things like cancer screening are getting put on the back burner. But whether it’s COVID-19 or something else that’s causing you to put off cancer screening, we highly recommend you don’t.

If you notice a concerning symptom PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE IT, no matter your age. We are seeing colorectal cancers in young patients that a decade or two ago was unheard of. Hospitals and your healthcare providers are taking the necessary precautions to keep you safe from getting the virus if you follow the simple rules of wearing a mask, social distancing, wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds, and don’t touch your face.

Let’s talk about a few symptoms that can signify cancer that should not be ignored. Make sure to contact your doctor if you:

• Have unusual weight loss
• Cough up blood
• See blood in your urine or stools
• See dark tarry stools or changes in your bowel habits
• Have abnormal vaginal spotting or bleeding if you have gone through menopause if you are a woman
• Notice a new lump that you did not have before in your breasts or lymph nodes or anywhere on your body
• Notice a new dark mole on your skin that you did not have before, or a change in a mole you have had

If you notice any of these signs, please contact your doctor. The fear of getting the Coronavirus may cause you to delay reporting these symptoms, but please do not.

Data tells us that there are some simple things you can do to decrease your likelihood of developing cancer. Nothing is 100%, but anything you can do to decrease your risk of getting cancer is an important step you can take.

Lastly, limit sun exposure by using a sunscreen or wearing protective clothing.

There are new vaccines against certain viruses that are known to cause cancer. Hepatitis B is linked to liver cancer and there is a vaccine to prevent Hep B infection. There is no cure for hepatitis B.

Hepatitis C is also linked to liver cancer. There is no vaccine for it, but there are drugs that can cure hepatitis C.

Other viruses such as the human papilloma virus, HPV, and Epstein Barr virus have been linked to development of cancers. HPV has been linked to cancers of the throat, cervix, anal canal, vagina, and vulva. You can screen with PAP smears for cervical cancer, but these other cancers have no good screening and present with symptoms that are often times ignored until the cancer is advanced. It is hoped that by vaccinating young people before they become sexually active the infection rate from HPV is decreased which hopefully decreases the rate of occurrence of the above mentioned cancers in the future.

There are screening guidelines to help detect cancer in its earliest stages. Early detection of cancer greatly increases the chances for successful treatment. We know that early stage cancers are much easier to cure with less treatment than advanced cancers, thus decreasing cost of treatment and overall burden to the patient.

There are many screening guidelines, and no test is 100% at finding cancer, but certainly it is better than no screening. These tests coupled with patients notifying their healthcare providers about unusual symptoms (discussed above) aid in cancer detection. Below we will discuss standard screenings as well as newer technologies that are being used and developed to make screening more effective as well as easier for the patient.

The most widely recommended screenings have to do with detection of the some of the most common cancers- prostate, breast, colorectal, cervix, and lung. For many of these screening tests, advances in imaging technology and the use of artificial intelligence and analytics are improving the accuracy of medical imaging for early cancer diagnosis. AI may quantify information from images that is not detectable by humans and thereby complement clinical decision making. AI also can enable the aggregation of multiple data streams into powerful, integrated diagnostic systems spanning radiographic images, genomics, pathology, and electronic health records

Finally, what is new in the screening world? A most exciting development is tumor cell free DNA blood tests. These blood tests are now showing promise in detecting cancer before it becomes symptomatic.  In early clinical trials they have shown high sensitivity and specificity for detecting cancers that have no good present screening tests. They have shown good results on a few thousand patients who are known to have cancer, and are now beginning trials for validation in patients with no known cancer. This would be a fantastic development as it would require only a simple blood test, and if abnormal would then be confirmed with standard methods. This will indeed make screening more desirable if it were as simple as a blood test.

It’s essential for everyone to be screened for cancer as soon as they notice the signs listed above. Depending on your symptoms, your healthcare provider will likely use one of the methods we discussed so they can detect any problems as early as possible. Many types of cancer are easier to treat in their early stages, making cancer screening vital to improving prognosis.

At SERO, we offer the latest techniques in radiation oncology for those who have been diagnosed with cancer and need treatment. If you’re looking for a consultation, please contact us online or call (704)-680-6570. We’re here to support you and help you find the right option for your situation.