Annual Checkups: Why Does Cancer Still "Lurk"? These Crucial Tests Can't Be Missed!

Annual Checkups: Why Does Cancer Still "Lurk"? These Crucial Tests Can't Be Missed!Nowadays, more and more people are paying attention to their health, and regular checkups have become a habit. However, not all checkups can effectively detect diseases, especially those "lurking" cancers

Annual Checkups: Why Does Cancer Still "Lurk"? These Crucial Tests Can't Be Missed!

Nowadays, more and more people are paying attention to their health, and regular checkups have become a habit. However, not all checkups can effectively detect diseases, especially those "lurking" cancers. If key items are missing from the checkup, some serious diseases may be difficult to detect in time. Mr. Zhang's story is a warning: he had annual checkups, but was diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 50. This made him realize that checkups are not a panacea, and key items cannot be missed.

Mr. Zhang's Warning

Mr. Zhang, a middle school teacher, has always paid attention to his health and had regular checkups every year. In the spring of his 50th year, he suddenly felt chest tightness and difficulty breathing during a health run. Initially, he thought it was due to lack of physical strength and didn't pay much attention. The next day, he went to the hospital for a checkup. The electrocardiogram and chest X-ray results showed normal heart and lung function. The doctor recommended a chest CT scan to rule out other potential problems. The CT scan showed a small shadow in the lung, and the doctor recommended a biopsy.

A few days later, the test results confirmed the doctor's suspicions: Mr. Zhang had early-stage lung cancer. The news was a bolt from the blue for him because previous annual checkups had never revealed any abnormalities. Fortunately, because it was discovered early, the surgery was very successful and Mr. Zhang recovered well. But this experience made him reconsider his attitude towards checkups. He realized that regular checkups are important, but not all diseases can be detected through routine checkups.

Limitations of Routine Checkups

Mr. Zhang's story is not an isolated case. Many people have missed the opportunity to detect cancer early due to the limitations of checkups.

• Limited standard checkup items: Routine checkups typically include basic screenings such as blood tests, urine analysis, and X-ray examinations, but they do not cover all cancer screenings. For example, examinations such as gastroscopy, colonoscopy, or PET/CT, which can detect early cancer, are not standard checkup items.

• Lack of obvious symptoms in early cancer: Many cancers show few obvious symptoms in the early stages, and even if a checkup is performed, they can be difficult to detect.

• Rapid development of cancer: Some types of cancer, such as certain lymphomas or small cell lung cancer, develop very quickly, and may progress rapidly between checkups and develop clinical symptoms.

Therefore, relying solely on routine checkups cannot guarantee the detection of all cancers. Especially for high-risk groups, they should undergo more detailed specialized cancer screenings based on doctor's recommendations.

Specialized Screening for High-Risk Groups

• Long-term smokers: Should have regular low-dose CT scans to screen for lung cancer.

• Individuals with a family history of colon cancer: Should have regular colonoscopy examinations.

• Women with a family history of breast cancer: Should have regular mammograms.

• Men with a family history of prostate cancer: Should have regular prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests.

Pay Attention to Early Symptoms and Be Vigilant

In addition to regular checkups and specialized screenings, raising awareness of early symptoms of cancer is equally important. Understanding and monitoring subtle changes in your body, such as persistent weight loss, unexplained pain, long-lasting sores or unusual bleeding, are key to early detection of cancer. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention for a detailed examination.

Checkup Reports: These "Keywords" Indicate Risk

After a routine checkup, we will receive a checkup report. Understanding the keywords in the report, especially those that may indicate a risk of cancer, is critical for early diagnosis and treatment.

• Atypical hyperplasia: Often found in the results of breast, prostate, or skin examinations, indicates abnormal cell proliferation, which may indicate pre-cancerous lesions and require further observation and regular follow-up.

• Thickening or hyperplasia: Such as thickening of the stomach wall, thickening of the endometrium, etc., may be a manifestation of inflammation, benign lesions, or early cancer, especially for middle-aged and elderly people, it should be taken seriously.

• Lumps or nodules: When such descriptions appear in examinations of organs such as the thyroid, breast, or lungs, they need further diagnosis and may be benign, but also may be an early manifestation of malignant tumors.

• Highly suspicious: Imaging or pathological examination results are very similar to the characteristics of cancer, and further accurate examination should be conducted as soon as possible.

• Abnormally elevated tumor markers: Substances in the blood that are associated with certain types of cancer. Abnormally elevated levels can be used as a basis for further examination.

If any of the above situations appear in your checkup report, you should not ignore them. Communicate with your doctor in time, get professional advice, and seek further diagnosis and treatment if necessary, which can greatly improve the chance of successful treatment.

Essential Checkup Items: No Exceptions

In addition to routine checkups, the following four key examinations are crucial for disease prevention, early detection, and treatment, and should not be omitted:

1. Cardiovascular Examination: Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Cardiovascular examinations include electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, and blood pressure and cholesterol level tests, which can help detect early signs of cardiovascular disease.

2. Cancer Screening: Depending on your age, gender, and family history, you should have appropriate cancer screenings, including mammograms (women), Pap smears (women), colorectal cancer screenings (such as colonoscopies), and prostate cancer screenings (men).

3. Blood Sugar and Diabetes Screening: As the number of diabetes patients worldwide increases, it is crucial to check blood sugar levels regularly. Blood glucose tests and HbA1c tests can effectively diagnose and monitor diabetes, preventing complications.

4. Liver Function and Kidney Function Tests: The liver and kidneys are important detoxification organs in the human body, and abnormal function can affect overall health. Liver function tests include measuring markers such as ALT, AST, and bilirubin. Kidney function tests include measurements such as serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. These tests can help detect hepatitis, cirrhosis, nephritis, or kidney failure at an early stage.

A comprehensive checkup should include a comprehensive assessment of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and liver and kidney function. Lack of any key examination can make the checkup lose its important value of prevention and early diagnosis. Therefore, when undergoing a checkup, you should communicate fully with your doctor to ensure that the checkup items comprehensively cover the above key areas to protect your health.

Conclusion

On the path to pursuing health, regular checkups are our important tool, but their effectiveness depends on the comprehensiveness of the examinations. Sadly, many people fail to realize that checkups that do not include key items may not be able to reveal potential serious health problems. These diseases may not have obvious symptoms in the early stages, and only through targeted examinations can they be detected and treated in time. Checkups should not be just a formality, but a comprehensive health assessment to ensure that we can keep track of our health status in time, take appropriate measures to stay healthy, and achieve true "prevention is better than cure."

Disclaimer: The content of this article is sourced from the internet. The copyright of the text, images, and other materials belongs to the original author. The platform reprints the materials for the purpose of conveying more information. The content of the article is for reference and learning only, and should not be used for commercial purposes. If it infringes on your legitimate rights and interests, please contact us promptly and we will handle it as soon as possible! We respect copyright and are committed to protecting it. Thank you for sharing.(Email:[email protected])