This May Be The First New Cancer Indicator In 30 Years
invite response
2017 May 30, 1:32am 883 views 1 comment
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curious2
2017 May 30, 1:54am
"We know that early diagnosis is absolutely key in whether people survive cancer,†said lead study author Dr. Sarah Bailey, in a recent statement.
Misleading. For example, with breast cancer, "early diagnosis" results in many unnecessary procedures on patients who might not even have had cancer, or at least would not have died from it. Similarly with prostate and colon cancer: more screening tests have not increased longevity. In America, "early diagnosis" tends to mean over-treatment of "cancers" that are either imaginary or too slow to worry about.
“Our research suggests that substantial numbers of people could have their cancer diagnosed up to three months earlier if thrombocytosis prompted investigation for cancer. This time could make a vital difference in achieving earlier diagnosis."
Translation: as many people as possible should get yet another test, four times every year, and it should be subsidized infinitely as "preventive care."
Platelets, the smallest proteins that make up blood, are responsible for causing clots at the site of injury to prevent further blood loss. Though their function is important, too many of these platelets can lead to a condition known as thrombocytosis. Now, new research suggests that this blood disorder may be even more dangerous than previously believed, and could be an early sign of cancer.
The study, now published online in The British Journal of General Practice (link provided below), revealed that high blood platelet count in some cases may be the only outward indication of cancer. For example, according to the report, nearly one-third of patients with thrombocytosis and lung or colorectal cancer had no other symptoms of their cancer. This research may have identified the first new indicator of cancer in 30 years, and the researchers hope their finding can be used to save lives through earlier diagnosis.
The study consisted of the medical records of 40,000 individuals, and results showed that more than 11 percent of men and 6 percent of women over the age of 40 with high blood platelet count went on to be diagnosed with cancer within a year. In addition, this number further rose if the individual had a second raised platelet count within six months of the first.
"We know that early diagnosis is absolutely key in whether people survive cancer,†said lead study author Dr. Sarah Bailey, in a recent statement. “Our research suggests that substantial numbers of people could have their cancer diagnosed up to three months earlier if thrombocytosis prompted investigation for cancer. This time could make a vital difference in achieving earlier diagnosis."
According to the team, if a conservative estimate of 5 percent of people with cancer have thrombocytosis before their cancer diagnosis, then a third of this group could potentially receive their cancer diagnosis months earlier. As in the case with so many types of cancer, early diagnosis is often key to better recovery and survival.
“Our findings on thrombocytosis show a strong association with cancer, particularly in men - far stronger than that of a breast lump for breast cancer in women,†explained study co-author Willie Hamilton in a statement. “It is now crucial that we roll out cancer investigation of thrombocytosis. It could save hundreds of lives each year."
http://www.ibtimes.com/may-be-first-new-cancer-indicator-30-years-2545015
Note: Lots of good information on cancer and other topics, in this journal, easy to erad and understand.
British Journal of General Practice: http://bjgp.org/
#Cancer #Medicine #Science