Cancer Screening
By William Huang
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. Cancer occurs when some of the cells in the body divide without stopping and spread into various tissues nearby. Normal cells for when necessary, replacing old, dead cells. However, sometimes new cells form uncontrollably and old cells do not die, causing extra cells to clump together to produce something called a tumor, which manifests into either benign or malignant forms. The benign tumors must be treated, but do not necessarily result in cancer. However, malignant tumors can develop into cancer tumors, which is very harmful to a human body and can cause death. Therefore, one major option for treatment is cancer screening.
Cancer screening can save lives. If people routinely screen for cancer, the likelihood of detecting cancer early is higher, which can greatly increase the chance of survival. For example, according to the Canada Newswire, when small cell lung cancer was treated during stage 4, the survival rates were 1% to 5%. However, when they were treated at stage 1, the survival rates were significantly higher from 68% to 92%. Additionally, cancer screening aids detection, which is when there is a cancer tumor that is non-palpable. Non-palpable cancer tumors increase the risk of missing the presence of cancer, because you can’t feel any unusual pain or difference in your usual daily basis. For example, breast cancer is one type that may not be felt. Early detection from cancer screening can help to enhance one’s chance of survival.
Though cancer screening can help, there may also be some unanticipated consequences. Falsely interpreted screening results can lead to overtreatment, which can cause a lot of unnecessary care and radioactivity. Screening also involves being exposed to radiation which can cause fatigue, among other side effects, especially in children. When certain parts of the body are exposed to this radiation, some side effects that could occur are cataracts, secondary cancers, hearing problems, eye problems, thyroid problems, etc.
Cancer is relentless, with the ability to spread to other parts of the body. This is why screening is so vital. Though there may be some side effects, the benefit of detecting a cancer that is not palpable is worth it. It is more likely that cancer will develop as one ages, because you have more time exposed to carcinogens, such as sunlight. Although cancers are more likely to appear in adults, they can appear in children.
Citations:
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/screening
https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/prevention-and-healthy-living/cancer-screening
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/screening
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