TABLE OF CONTENTS Leading a lifestyle that keeps you away from known causes of cancer is one way to reduce the chances of getting afflicted by the disease. Because life style change does not provide guaranteed immunity, the next best option is early detection of the disease, before it advances beyond redemption.
This chapter provides an overview of the technologies developed for early detection of cancer, such as imaging techniques, molecular markers, recognition molecules, nanowire arrays, nanofluidics, and biochips. It also describes various future technological approaches for cancer treatment and its diagnosis.
Early detection involves conducting screening tests to get a warning signal before any symptom manifests. After detection of early warning signs, preliminary physical examination techniques are employed. If these tests suspect cancer, imaging techniques are used for further diagnosis.
Mass screening tests are conducted on population at risk as a part of government programs.
| Note | The entire population does not undergo these tests because screening tests are not mandatory. |
American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends periodic screening tests for some common varieties of cancer even when no early warning signs or symptoms are present. Triennial screening tests for people in 20-40 age group and annual screening tests thereafter are recommended by ACS.
A screening test has to fulfill certain requirements before it is accepted as an approved program:
The test should be sensitive enough to detect cancer if it is present.
The test should be so specific that it should not give false positive in persons free...
