How you can identify whether you have ‘Stage 0’ cancer before symptoms appear

There are countless reasons – and apologies – that people will use to skip a screening of the cancer health control. Life can be busy, attending an appointment can be complicated and let’s be honest, there are much nicer things to do with your time.

But sticking to the recommended health control screening schedules may be the difference when it comes to early detection of cancer Or potential cancer cells, also known as stage 0 cancer.

Catching cancer risks earlier than later is the reason why doctors and organizations such as Cancer Council Australia are constantly showing the message: “Early detection saves lives.”

The chairman of the screening and immunization committee Karen Canfell explained Femail that the aim of the national cancer screening programs is ‘to find and treat cancers with healthy individuals as early as possible or, even better, in a precancerous phase’.

The role that regular planned screening programs have in this early detection process is in line with phase 0 cancer – and how screening offers a rare opportunity to help catch cancer risk in an extremely early stage.

Insight into stage 0 Cancer and Symptoms

With cancer diagnoses, staging is used by doctors as a measure of how far a cancer has spread in the body.

In his simplest form, Karen explained: “Stage 1 is a cancer in its primary location, stage 2 has spread to local lymph nodes, stage 3 to fabric beyond local lymph nodes and stage 4 cancers are metastasized to other organs and distant parts of the body.”

‘Diagnostic tests and studies will help to show if you have cancer, the size of the tumor, if it has spread from the original site to other parts of the body and whether lymph nodes are influenced. These factors are combined to determine in which phase a cancer is located, from stage 1 to 4. ‘

Outside this scale is phase 0 cancer, also called ‘in situ’, which is a precursor of all the above phases.

“A collection of abnormal cells that has not yet spread or is invasive is allocated stage 0, or is mentioned in situ because it is an early form of cancer,” Karen explained.

Common cancer symptoms such as nodules are rarely associated with a stage 0 cancer diagnosis-what means that they are detected almost exclusively after participating in a screening program or a self-intended health control.

“This is why screening on cancer is important, because screening programs can identify cancer and precancere disorders at an early stage by signs that may otherwise go unnoticed,” the spokesperson confirmed.

‘Often precancerous or abnormal cell development, such as the changes preceding cervical cancer, will not cause symptoms.

“It is also important to know that some cancers, such as breast and colon cancer, cannot show tumor growth in any stage.”

Karen explained that the cancers that are most detected in stage 0 ‘breast cancer, prostate cancer and melanoma’ include – which are also one of the most common cancers in Australia combined at all stages of diagnosis. “

The absence of symptoms at a stage 0 diagnosis circles back to the importance of strict sticking to the recommended planning times of screening of health cancer as an absolute minimum.

“For most cancers, clinical results are better if they are detected and treated at an early stage.”

Screening programs that can help in stage 0 detection of cancer

Currently, organized screening programs organized in Australia are available for intestinal, cervical and breast cancers, in which a lung cancer research program will be introduced in Australia from July.

With the help of the example of the National Darmel Cancer Screening Program, the chairman of Cancer Council explained that, when ‘detected early, more than 90 percent of colon cancers can be successfully treated’.

“Between 2021 – 2022, only 40 percent of the eligible Australians participated in the National Darmel Cancer Screening Program,” she said. “We know, by modeling, that if this figure would rise to 60 percent, 84,000 lives could be saved in 2040.”

“The key is that if you are eligible for a cancer screening program, participate it can save your life, whether it is now by detecting a precancerous condition or an early phase of cancer that would have spread if they were not detected by screening.”

So how often do those who are eligible to participate in these screening? The health expert confirmed that the requirements vary between the screening programs.

‘The BreastScreen Australia program Invites women aged 50 – 74 to have a free mammogram every 2 years, “said Karen.

The expert explained that women aged 40 – 49 and who are older than 74 are also eligible to receive free mammograms, but will not receive a direct reminder message.

“To participate in the program, you must book for an appointment in a clinic of a breast screen Australia,” Karen added.

The National Darmel Cancer Screening Program is a home test called a faecal occult blood test (FOBT), which is emailed 50-74 every two years.

Moreover, people aged 45 – 49 can also ask to be sent a kit via the National Darmel Cancer Screening Register.

“This test searches for blood traces in the shit from which you collect two samples and mail it to a pathology lab for analysis,” Karen explained. “If your result is positive, follow -up tests, such as a colonoscopy, are recommended to determine the origin and cause of the blood.”

The National Cervical Screening Program is open to women between 25-75 years old and they are invited to screen every five years.

“The test is looking for signs of HPV, which causes 93 percent of cervical cancers, and other pre-cancer-like abnormalities, which, if left untreated, can continue to cervical cancer,” said Karen.

“The program offers two screening options self-collection or clinical collection.”

You can find out more about your eligible for the national breast, intestinal and cervical cancer programs HERE.

The new National Lung Cancer Screening Program Starting in July is for Australians aged 50-70, as well as those who are currently smoking or have stopped smoking in the last 10 years and have a heavy smoking history.

Australians have to talk to their doctor to be referred to the screening program.

“The test includes undergoing a low dose of CT scan, which lasts about 10-15 minutes,” Karen explained.

Stay on the screening track

If you have gone longer than the recommended amount of time between screening agreements, the health expert proposes to do this earlier than later.

“If you are eligible for one of these screening programs and you have postponed or missed a participation, it is important to ensure that you catch up.”

The health expert adds that it is important to remember that ‘most screening tests are not diagnostic tests – and usually used to look for’ early cancer indicators’, which are then ‘used in addition to other tests to determine cancer diagnosis’.

“That is why it is also important to get to know your own body and to keep an eye on any unusual changes,” she said.

“If you notice changes, such as a lump in your chest or a place that grows on your skin, it is important to see your doctor for further research.”

Next steps: What happens after a stage 0 cancer diagnosis

If a screening followed by further diagnostics a stage 0 cancer diagnosis, Karen said that the advantage is that most cancers are diagnosed in stage 0 ‘will have good treatment results’.

“However, the results can vary, given that there are more than 200 cancer types and subtypes,” she added.

After a stage 0 cancer diagnosis, Karen explained that your doctor will advise the most suitable treatment plan for your situation and the type of cancer. Some of the usual options for cancer treatment ‘include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy’.

But in the case of a stage 0 diagnosis, Karen noted that none of these measures may initially be needed.

“Your doctor can also recommend that you need routine monitoring, but do not need active treatment.”

There is never a good time to find out that you have cancer. But if you do that, discovering it increases that it is 0, or cancer in situ, the amount of time for research and treatment options to fully explore.

In addition to holding the national schedules and being vigilant about self -controls, Karen also suggests some other simple lifestyle measures.

“For all cancers, the keys for prevention aim to lead a cancer-slimme lifestyle,” she explained.

“Don’t smoke, protect yourself against harmful Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, a healthy diet and exercise, moderating alcohol consumption and cancer screening and having regular health controls.”