From Detection to Treatment: Why Early Intervention Saves Lives

Nobody wants to have cancer. This is why it’s important to make sure that you see a medical doctor, dentist, and optician regularly to ensure that if you do have the early warning signs of cancer, it can be caught quickly and treated sooner.

So, aside from the fact that you’ll likely have a higher survival rate, why is it better to detect and treat cancers early on? Here’s a simple guide to answer that question, as well as a few others.

Simpler Treatment

If you’ve recently found a lump under your arm, in your breast, or in your testicle, the chances are that it hasn’t been there for a while. This is why self-checks are important. This increases the chances of any tumors detected being at stage 1, which is the easiest to treat and is the least invasive. 

The earlier a cancer is detected, the more likely it will be that it is treated effectively, and treatment will be less invasive. That’s why it’s crucial to know the signs and symptoms to watch for; the team at Moffitt Cancer Center has created a must-read guide for spotting lung cancer. 

Shorter Treatment Times

The more complicated the cancer is, or the larger the tumor, the longer the treatment times. 

If you leave cancer unchecked by a doctor, it can shed, grow and press onto vital organs, causing issues with their functioning, and can increase the chances of blood clots. 

So, if you suspect cancer, make an appointment to see your medical doctor quickly. That way, if you have the “big C”, you won’t need to spend a prolonged period going through the treatment.

Better Quality of Life

Life isn’t simply defined by the medical definition of breathing; if you catch cancer early on, your quality of life is less likely to be affected, too. You won’t need to spend hours going to and from appointments or chemotherapy sessions, and you’ll be able to put that time into your recovery, as well as spending time with loved ones. 

It Stops Metastasizing

If you’ve ever watched a medical drama, you may have heard of a primary cancer growth shedding. This is, in essence, when a tumor begins to shed parts of the cells, which go through the body to somewhere else and grow. The medical term for this is metastasizing, and if cancer isn’t detected early on, this can become a real problem.

Some cancers are, by their nature, worse for causing secondary tumors, such as breast, lung, and rectal cancers. So, if you notice anything odd that could point to cancer in these areas, such as lumps, coughing, or bleeding, get in touch with your medical doctor. When diagnosed early, all cancers have a lower chance of spreading and creating more problems through the treatment process.

Longer Life

Studies from the British Medical Journal (BMJ) have found that when a person is diagnosed with stage 1 cancer, they’re likely to live longer once the cancer has been treated. This could be due to the fact that treatment options are simpler and less invasive, or it may simply be because the cancer wasn’t given the chance to spread and cause secondary complications.

So, as always, if you find a lump or notice a change in your skin, like a mole growing or itching, book yourself a medical appointment with your family practice doctor today as soon as possible.