Understanding early-stage cancer
Early cancer detection may lead to better treatment outcomes
September 12, 2022
When taking on cancer, you want time on your side. The potential for a better outcome is greater when cancer is detected early, before it has spread. With more awareness around the importance of routine cancer screening, more cancer cases can be diagnosed in earlier stages. Important work is still needed to continually improve care for early-stage disease.
Understanding the different stages of cancer
When cancer is diagnosed, doctors perform tests to understand how advanced it is and whether or not it’s spread from the original site to other areas in the body. This information, known as staging, can provide important insights into the odds for recurrence (the cancer coming back) and recovery, and help guide treatment decisions.
Diagnosing and treating cancer earlier
When certain types of cancer are diagnosed early, patients may live longer if they receive treatment before the cancer spreads to distant parts of the body. The medical community generally considers cancer care a success when doctors can no longer detect the cancer five years following diagnosis.
Treatment for early-stage cancer typically involves surgery. Radiation, chemotherapy and other medicines may also be used before surgery to help to reduce the size of the tumor, or after surgery to lower the chance of the cancer coming back.
“Care for people with metastatic cancer has changed dramatically in recent decades, while the approach to caring for people with early-stage disease has remained fairly traditional with surgery, sometimes coupled with chemotherapy or radiation.” Dr. Imai.
“Cancer research is moving in an exciting direction, with greater focus on discovering therapies for people with early-stage cancer. I’m hopeful that this research will deliver new options, and more time, to patients and their families,”
Kentaro Imai, M.D., M.P.H
MSD's Clinical director of oncologyPlease talk to your doctor if you require further information or if you have any questions.
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TAPS NP18367. NZ-NON-00293. First Issued 5 September 2022