Preventive Oncology, Ahmedabad

The Department of Preventive Oncology at Sterling Cancer Hospital, Ahmedabad is concerned with the preventive aspects of cancer and cancer prevention on the whole. The mumber of cancer cases has been on a rise in India. It’s been estimated that more than 10 lakh cases are diagnosed every year and this number is likely to increase by fivefold by year 2025. What is more sad is that more than 80% of cancers are detected at a very late stage, which decreases the overall survival chance and also compromises on treatment plan level.  Most of the cancers are diagnosed symptomatically and have already reached the advanced stage.

About 2/3rd of the cancers can be prevented by certain lifestyle changes like quitting smoking and tobacco and screenings.

Screening may reduce cancer morbidity since treatment for earlier-stage cancers is often less aggressive than that for more advanced-stage cancers.

Everyone is at risk for cancer, men, women, the elderly and children as well. When your doctor advises you for  screening, it does not mean that you have cancer.

Screening Test can be done in different ways:

1. Physical Examination and History- An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seem unusual. A history of the patient’s health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.
2. Laboratory Test-Your doctor may also advice for laboratory test which may include urine test, different blood tests, antigen test or other markers in the body.
3. Imaging Procedures-You also may be advised to go through some medical imaging testing like Mammogram, CT- Scan or X-Ray.
4. Genetic Test-There are established genetic mutations which are linked to certain types of cancers. You may have to go through some genetic testing to find the risk.