6 tests to help detect cancer early

Statistics show that each year, Vietnam has about 150,000 cancer cases and about 80,000 deaths. However, according to medical experts, if detected, treated, and operated on early, it is still possible to remove tumors and prevent cancer recurrence by up to 90%.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Nghiem Luat - Medlatec General Hospital, said that some types of cancer can show signs and symptoms of cancer such as skin, cervical, breast, rectal and oral cancer, so they can be diagnosed and treated at an early stage.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Nghiem Luat, the most accurate cancer diagnosis must be based on: Blood and urine tests; Imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI or PET-CT); Cytology and many other methods..

Here are some tests that can help diagnose cancer early.

1. Blood and urine tests:

The method of finding cancer markers or more precisely, quantifying cancer markers in the blood also has certain value if used properly. This test is really useful in assessing the severity of the condition as well as predicting the progression of the disease during treatment.

A blood test that helps in diagnosing cancer such as the PSA antigen test helps detect prostate cancer; the CA 125 antigen test - a form of cancer antigen 125 in the blood helps detect ovarian cancer; the CA 199 test detects pancreatic and stomach cancer...

However, blood tests often have to be combined with other tests to give the most accurate results.

Experts say that blood tests cannot definitely confirm the detection of cancer cells because the test results can sometimes be negative and sometimes positive.

2. Diagnostic imaging

Imaging tests used in cancer diagnosis include: X-rays, ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or PET-CT scans to help doctors observe the internal organs of the body in detail and detect abnormalities, such as tumors.

PET/CT method is a nuclear medical device that applies the technology of combining PET and CT machines, which can detect about 80% of cancers, including early stage cancers, right after the body has only pathological changes in metabolism but has not yet formed structural damage.

In addition, the device also helps to find the location of metastatic cancer and primary cancer in patients, helping doctors to predict and have effective treatment methods.

3. Biopsy:

Biopsy is a diagnostic test for cancer that is used for almost all types of cancer, as it provides the most accurate results.

Usually, doctors will perform a biopsy after a series of diagnostic tests such as X-rays, CT scans, etc. have identified the tumor.

In this test, the doctor will surgically remove some tissue and look at it under a microscope to look for signs of cancer.

4. Bone marrow test to detect leukemia:

Bone marrow testing has many methods to determine types of blood cancer, including: Immunophenotyping test; Genetic cell test; Cerebrospinal fluid test.

This method helps to determine more accurately the patient's ability to have leukemia. According to this method, experts will conduct a bone marrow aspiration and test to classify and identify the types of blood cells in the bone marrow. If the amount of Junvenile cells in the blood increases, exceeding 5% or even more than 30%, it can be determined that the patient has leukemia.

5. Cervical cytology test:

Pap tests are used to detect precancerous cells before they can turn into invasive cancer. If precancerous cells are found, treatment can be started and stopped before cancer begins.

Many places now use the ThinPrep Pap test to detect cervical cancer.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Nghiem Luat - Medlatec General Hospital, ThinPrep Pap is an improved Pap smear test, in which the collected cervical materials are not smeared onto a glass slide to make a specimen like a regular Pap smear test, but are completely washed into a liquid in a ThinPrep bottle and transferred to the laboratory to be processed by the ThinPrep machine to make a specimen in a fully automatic manner.

The ThinPrep Pap test is much better at detecting squamous cell lesions, precancerous changes, and cervical cancer than a regular Pap smear.

6. Colonoscopy:

According to Associate Professor, Doctor, Doctor Hoang Cong Dac, Department of Surgery - Digestive, Medlatec General Hospital, colorectal cancer is a fairly common type of cancer in the world as well as in Vietnam, in which both men and women can get it, this is also the 5th most common type of cancer after lung, stomach, liver, and breast cancer.

Most colorectal cancers occur in people over the age of 50. Therefore, colonoscopy should be performed on everyone under the age of 50, including those without symptoms.

According to Associate Professor Dac, virtual colonoscopy is often applied to elderly people who cannot tolerate flexible colonoscopy.

Flexible colonoscopy: is the only method that can perform a biopsy (or remove colorectal polyps) to definitively diagnose colorectal cancer by histopathology.

According to SK&DS