World Cancer Day 2023

Cancer can be prevented through screening.

In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported the number of deaths from cancer. Very high, reaching almost 10 million people, and in the same year, the number of new cancer patients increased to 18.1 million, with the most breast cancer patients found at 2.3 million, followed by lung cancer patients at 2.2 million.

Avoiding cancer risk factors like smoking drinking alcohol Eating food that is not healthy lack of exercise and air pollution Including screening for cancer at an early stage. Reduces the risk of cancer by up to 30-50% because if abnormalities are discovered at an early stage to receive treatment before the condition spreads It helps reduce the chance of death.

Because cancer often shows no symptoms in the early stages. Cancer screening therefore helps in screening the risk of cancer. Currently, there are many methods of testing as follows:

1. Testing for tumor markers (Tumor marker) from blood

Can help screen for the risk of certain types of cancer, such as

• Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) values ​​are often higher than normal in liver cancer patients. (Hepatocellular carcinoma) including cancer of the ovaries or testicles, embryonal cell carcinoma.
• Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) values, which are often abnormally high, patients with cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, especially colon cancer, will encounter high CEA values ​​more often than other types of cancer.
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in males to determine the risk of prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
• Cancer antigens (CA15-3) values ​​to screen for breast cancer in women.
• Cancer antigens (CA125) values ​​to screen for non-mucinous type ovarian cancer
• Cancer antigens (CA19-9) values ​​to screen for pancreatic cancer and cancer of the bile duct

2. Pap Smear or Pap Test

To screen for cervical cancer The doctor will use a tool inserted into the vagina. To collect cells from the uterus and send them for laboratory testing to check for abnormal cells. or cells that may develop into cancer cells Including testing for the HPV virus (Human papillomavirus), which increases the risk of cervical cancer. It is recommended that women undergo a Pap smear 3 years after starting to have sexual intercourse. or when reaching 25 years of age and should undergo cervical cancer screening every 1-2 years

3. Mammogram examination

It's breast imaging. Can differentiate between various tissues and fat. To find abnormalities from an early stage It is an effective tool for detecting tartar in the breast. It is recommended that women aged 40 years and older get a mammogram every year.

4. EDIM (Epitope Detection in Monocytes) test

It is one of the technologies that help in screening for cancer risk in the early stages (Early Detection Cancer) by using the test of white blood cells, monocytes, that have been stimulated to become macrophages (Macrophage), which are responsible for eating up foreign substances throughout the body. Whether it's bacteria Cells deteriorate including cancer cells Therefore, abnormal cell fragments can be found inside the macrophage cells. An important part of this measurement method uses two indicators, DNaseX and TKTL1 Gene, to calculate the score. Used to look at the risk of having abnormal cells that have a chance of developing into cancer cells.

Although cancer is a life-threatening disease for humans, It takes both money and time to maintain it for a long time. But if we adjust our lifestyle Take care of your physical health. and undergo regular health checkups and cancer screenings It will reduce the chance of death and illness from cancer. So that we can live a long, quality life

With best wishes from BDMS Wellness Clinic​

LINE: @bdmswellnessclinic or https://lin.ee/Z4So1yQ

Thank you for the information from

• Cancer of any site - cancer stat facts [Internet]. SEER. [cited 2023Jan17]. Available from: https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/all.html
• Worldwide cancer data: World cancer research fund international [Internet]. WCRF International. 2022 [cited 2023Jan17]. Available from: https://www.wcrf.org/cancer-trends/worldwide-cancer-data/
• Cancer [Internet]. World Health Organization. World Health Organization; [cited 2023Jan17]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer
• Chittithaworn S, Charakorn C, Kongsawatvorakul C. Cervical cancer screening guidelines: An updated review. Thai Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2021:186-90.