Special considerations crucial in early cancer diagnosis

Last week, I highlighted the awareness and cancer screening plan as the basic cancer treatment strategy. Like in everyday life strategy, you need to be alert for survival. Self-defence is usually the key in order to overcome negative predators of the world or sadists. The relationship of a lion and antelope in the jungle offer good lessons on the importance of self-defence development in our daily life styles. Cancer screening procedure is comparable to the tool or aspect of operation in the military system whereas the tool of peace and forgiveness is comparable to the awareness — sensitisation drive against cancer. When politicians talk about peace and forgiveness; the aim is to create emotional stability and install a faith of positive belief in the population. On the scientific front, good screening procedures lead to early cancer diagnosis. This helps to diagnose cancers that would otherwise take long to show up or never manifest clinically. Early diagnosis is one of special considerations in cancer screening. For example some people with a strong family history of cancer are usually known to be at high risk. Strong family history usually points at those who have had cancer incidences within two or more first degree relatives. The first degree or second degree relatives include; brothers, sisters, parents, aunts, uncles and direct cousins. Such individuals are usually expected to carry genetic mutations and polymorphisms associated with specific cancers. They require special considerations for screening and require genetic testing to identify their genetic defects. An improved cancer fighting strategy scheme will always have good screening procedures coupled with accurate period of action in the high risk populations. The execution of timely, well-organised cancer prevention strategies also reflect the judgment and effectiveness of the health care system in the campaign to fight against cancer. Health experts in the cancer specialty or related field are usually required in such circumstances to determine the most appropriate tools and application of screening methods. This also explains why awareness and sensitisation of cancer oriented programmes need specialised skills especially in cancer epidemics or related medical expertise. You need knowledge to spot or localise the possibility of increased vigilance in the higher-risk populations. It is very difficult to carry out random screening procedures. You cannot carry out screening for the whole village. It is also very difficult to carry out house to house screening without other special considerations. When you have special considerations, you are able to identify individuals at high risk, counsel them appropriately before you deploy your procedures that are beneficial in the general population. There are various tools or methods that can be used in cancer screening strategy. For example detection of cancers that affect our internal organs can use procedures and tests such as x-rays, endoscopy, colonoscopy, ultra-sound or MRI and Pap smear. A variety of laboratory tests such as the ca-125 marker for ovarian cancer, the alfa-feto protein for liver cancer and the prostate specific antigen among many others. Every procedure varies with the varying cancer condition. For example direct visual examination is usually used to identify suspicious cancer lesions of the skin, lip, mouth external genitalia, and cervix. Examination by use of our hands or palpation to detect suspicious cancer lesions in case of breast lumps, nodules, or tumors. Palpation is also ideal for tumors of the mouth, salivary glands, thyroid, subcutaneous tissues, anus, rectum, prostate, testes and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, axilla, or even the groin. The accuracy of screening tests is usually measured in terms of sensitivity, specificity, predictive values that are either positive or negative. Sensitivity is the chance that a person with cancer has a positive test. Specificity is the chance a person without cancer has a negative test. Positive predictive value is the chance that a person with a positive test has cancer. Negative predictive value is the chance that a person with a negative test does not have cancer.