Cancer Society of New Zealand

Early detection and screening

All cancers, regardless of where they are in the body, start small. They then grow, either slowly or quickly, until they spread to other tissues. The cancer cells can travel around the body using the blood or lymph systems. For most treatments to be effective they are best started before the cancer has started to spread. To do this the cancers need to be ‘spotted’ early.

The aim of both screening and early detection programmes is to prevent cancer or detect cancer early and, hopefully, reduce the number of people who die from cancer each year.

Early detection

The early detection of cancer means finding cancer before there are symptoms or as soon as possible after they develop. Its aim is to find the cancer before it has time to spread to other parts of the body. This can be done through screening programmes or by recognising early warning signs. Early detection can help to reduce the time before diagnosis and, hopefully, lower the mortality rates for many types of cancer. It is important to always seek medical advice as soon as you notice any unusual changes.

Possible Warning Signs
Unfortunately, while some cancers have early warning signs that are easy to identify many do not.  The important message is to be aware of any changes that are out of the ordinary for you and to see a health professional as soon as possible to discuss what these changes may mean. Changes to look out for include:

• problems with your ‘water works'
• changes in moles or freckles
• a lump or change in your breast, testicle or elsewhere
• unexpected weight loss
• changes in bowel habits.

Any unusual or new symptom that continues for more than two weeks should be checked by a doctor.

Screening

Cancer screening is designed to lower the risk of dying from cancer in the general population. It is not for people who may have some symptoms. Screening is for people who are, as far as they know, completely well. A screening test is used to help identify those people who:

• have some early cell changes that may become cancer
• or have a cancer but are unaware of it

This enables those people to be offered treatment while the cancer is at an early stage or treat pre-cancerous changes that may, if left, develop into cancer. More information about cancer screening.

All women between 20 and 70 should have regular cervical screening. If done effectively it is possible to reduce the number of women who develop cervical cancer by 70% and the number who die by 65%. Learn more about the national cervical screening programme, or call free on 0800 729 729.

Studies show that if women over 45 have a mammogram (breast x-rays) every two years their chances of dying from breast cancer reduce by about a third. It's not necessary to have a mammogram if you're under 50 unless you've had breast cancer before or have a strong family history of breast cancer. Call Breast Screen Aotearoa free on 0800 270 200 to find out more.