The Importance of the Early Detection for Fighting Cancer

The impact of cancer in the United States in undeniable. Cancer directly affects
about one in three women and one in two men in the U.S., with more than
560,000 dying from it each year. It is widely known that the best chance to
reduce these fatality numbers is through early detection. There are two major
components of early detection of cancer: screening and education to promote
early diagnosis.

Regular use of established cancer assessment tests can prevent the

development of cancer. Either through identification and removal or treatment
abnormalities, screening tests can improve survival and decrease mortality by
detecting cancer at an early stage when treatment is more effective. It is
important to note that screening refers to testing in individuals who have no
symptoms for a particular disease. This makes sense because in many cases
symptoms are not present before cancer is diagnosed.

Early cancer detection through a regular screening has been shown to reduce
the number of deaths from cancers of the colon and rectum, breast, and uterine
cervix. For instance, in addition to detecting cancer early, regular cancer tests
can, in many cases, prevent colorectal cancer altogether. This is because some
polyps, or growths, can be found and removed before they have the chance to
turn into cancer.

Survival rates improve dramatically when cancer is diagnosed early and the
disease is confined to the organ of origin. The relative 5-year survival rate for
colorectal cancer when diagnosed at an early stage before it has spread is about
90%. But only about 4 out of 10 colorectal cancers are found at that early stage.
Once the cancer has spread to nearby organs or lymph nodes, the 5-
year relative survival rate goes down, and if cancer has spread to distant organs
(like the liver or lung) the rate is about 11%.

A standard 5-year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at
least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed; it includes people with colorectal
cancer who may die of other causes, such as heart disease. Five-year relative
survival rates are adjusted for patients dying of other diseases, so they reflect the
chances of not dying specifically from colorectal cancer.

Another striking example is the fact that nine out of 10 women can survive breast
cancer simply by detecting it early. Prognosis of a breast cancer depends largely
upon its stage and grade at diagnosis, 5-year survival rates ranging from 84% in
women diagnosed with Stage 1 disease to 18% in women with Stage 4 disease.

Education to promote early diagnosis should encompass the increased

awareness of new cancer tests and possible warning signs of cancer, among
physicians, nurses and other health care providers as well as among the general
public. People without symptoms or special risks need to be aware of these
screening methodologies and to be sure they are communicated to the physician.

National organizations such as American Cancer Society (ACS), National Cancer

Institute (NCI), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and American
Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) are dedicated to eliminating cancer as a
major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing
suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service.