Content Sources:
1. Zhang Xiaoming, Li Qiang, Zhang Wei. "The Role and Significance of Medical Examination in Disease Prevention." Chinese Journal of Health Examination 2020
2. Wang Li, Zhao Jianying. "The Meaning and Role of Health Check-up." Health Professions Education 2019.
3. Chen Huimin, Li Mingzhu. "On the Importance of Regular Physical Examination in Health Management." Modern Preventive Medicine 2018.
32-year-old Pang Long is a native of Hebei Province, living a simple life and is the envy of many people. He himself also pays special attention to health issues, and has regular physical examinations every year, which can be called a health expert. However, it is such a person, but he still can't escape the joke of fate. One has to wonder what is the value of medical examination?
First of all, a physical examination helps to detect diseases early. Many diseases do not show particularly obvious symptoms in the early stages, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain malignancies, which can be detected by physical examination at an early stage.
At this time, with appropriate treatment and adjustment, the impact of the disease can be greatly reduced, and even a cure can be achieved. Physical examination items such as blood routine, urine routine, liver function test, chest X-ray, etc., are all routine and effective examination items that can help doctors make an accurate diagnosis of the disease.
Secondly, physical examination helps to monitor health status and carry out health management. Through regular medical checkups, you can get a clear picture of your health, including heart health, kidney function, blood sugar levels, and more. This is especially important for people with chronic diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, where regular check-ups can help them stay on top of disease control and adjust treatment if necessary.
At the same time, through the health consultation service of physical examination, people can obtain professional health management advice and promote the formation of a healthy lifestyle, such as reasonable diet and moderate exercise.
Time came to the summer of 2019, during that time he always unconsciously felt chest tightness and panic, for the sake of insurance, he did go to the hospital for the first time, but all the indicators are very normal, thinking about it, it can only be attributed to the somatization reaction caused by too much pressure.
However, as time goes on, it doesn't seem so simple. In order to find an accurate answer, he went to a more authoritative hospital, wondering if he could get a different answer here. But what he didn't expect was that although the answer was yes, he never expected such a surprising answer.
"Impossible, I have a physical examination every year, how can I ......" Pang Long wandered in the corridor of the hospital, his heart full of confusion and fear. His tears couldn't help but flow, and he still clutched the paper report tightly in his hand.
Cancer, a word he never really thought about might befall him, was so coldly printed on the report. After learning the truth, tears unconsciously slipped down Pang Long's cheeks, and he sat on the bench at the door of the physical examination center, unable to help himself for a long time.
Pang Long recalled that every physical examination in the past was the result of health, and he was puzzled and muttered to himself: "Why do I have physical examinations every year, but I still can't escape the clutches of cancer?" Countless questions and incomprehensions converged into a heavy pressure, which made him feel breathless.
A few days later, Pang Long went to the hospital for a follow-up examination and found a specialist for an in-depth conversation. The doctor gently but solemnly explains that while regular checkups can improve the chances of early detection of the disease, not all types of cancer can be detected by routine checkups. Some cancers have inconspicuous early symptoms or are beyond the detection range of a physical examination, making it difficult to detect them at an early stage.
The facts that have happened really cannot be changed. Even though he no longer wants to face such a result, he can only endure all the grievances and ask about his follow-up treatment plan.
Like most cancer patients, Pang Long underwent chemotherapy. During the chemotherapy period, a lot of hair fell out, and his appetite was not as good as day by day, not only that, but his body gradually lost weight, and his mental state continued to decline, as if he was about to come to the end of his life at any time.
The question that made him puzzled was actually enough to get a glimpse of it through his physical examination items. The most important thing is that he didn't do these seven physical examination items for cancer screening.
1. Mammogram
Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women worldwide. Mammography, commonly known as mammography, is a method that uses low-dose X-rays to examine the breast gland to look for early-stage breast cancer. This test can detect cancer at an early stage of lump formation and when the lesion is still small, greatly improving the effectiveness of treatment.
2. Pap smear (Pap test)
Cervical cancer is usually asymptomatic in the early stages, but Pap testing can detect abnormal cells in the precancerous stage or at an early stage. The PAP test is performed by taking cells from the cervix and checking them for signs of cancer.
3. Colorectal cancer screening
Screening methods for colorectal cancer include fecal occult blood test, colonoscopy, and proctoscopy. A fecal occult blood test can detect if there is trace amounts of blood in the stool, which can be a sign of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps. A colonoscopy is an effective way to look inside the entire large intestine to look for abnormalities.
4. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men after skin cancer. The PSA test is a blood sample to measure the level of prostate-specific antigen, and elevated PSA levels can be a marker of prostate cancer.
5. Liver cancer screening
Liver cancer screening is usually given to people who are at high risk of liver cancer, such as those who are carriers of the chronic hepatitis virus. Screening includes blood tests and ultrasound, which can help detect liver abnormalities and treat them early.
6. Skin cancer screening
A skin cancer exam involves a visual examination of the skin throughout the body to look for unusual moles or skin changes. Your doctor will check for changes in the color, shape or size of your skin, which can be early signs of skin cancer.
7. Lung cancer screening
For high-risk people with a long-term smoking history, a low-dose spiral CT (LDCT) scan is an effective lung cancer screening tool. Compared with traditional X-rays, LDCT can detect lung nodules earlier, improving the chance of early detection of lung cancer.
The goal of cancer screening is to detect and treat cancer before it progresses to an advanced stage, thereby improving cure and survival rates. However, each screening method has its advantages and limitations, and not all types of cancer have specific screening tests.
In conclusion, through the seven screening programs mentioned above, combined with an individual's family history, lifestyle habits, and doctor's recommendations, the chances of early detection and treatment of cancer can be improved, thereby greatly improving survival and quality of life.