Regardless of family history, it is vital for every individual to undergo recommended cancer screenings and report unusual symptoms, expert says ahead of World Cancer Day

Addressing modifiable risk factors and undergoing regular screening to enable early detection and treatment of cancer could save millions of lives worldwide every year

Thursday, 3 February, 2022, CLEVELAND: Every individual should follow cancer screening recommendations and report any unusual symptoms to their doctor as soon as possible, regardless of whether there is a family history of a specific type of cancer, says an expert from global health system Cleveland Clinic ahead of World Cancer Day on 4 February.

Dale Shepard, MD, PhD, an oncologist in the Hematology and Medical Oncology department at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, US, says he often encounters patients who have not taken screening guidelines or unusual symptoms seriously, mistakenly believing they were not at risk as they had no family history of cancer.

"While a family history of a cancer is important to determine at what age an individual should start screening for that cancer, in the majority of cancer cases diagnosed, there is no family history of the disease," explains Dr. Shepard.

World Cancer Day is important in driving awareness of lifestyle factors that increase cancer risk; the importance of early detection and treatment enabled by recommended screenings; and the continued need for cancer research. "With around 18 million cases and 10 million deaths from cancer reported worldwide each year, this awareness could save millions of lives," says Dr. Shepard.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that between 30-50% of all cancer cases are preventable, Dr. Shepard says. "Relatively simple lifestyle modifications including maintaining a healthy weight; getting regular exercise and following a typical heart-healthy eating plan such as the Mediterranean diet, can have a great impact in helping to prevent cancer," he adds. "Cancers such as colon cancer are associated with high red meat consumption, while obesity has been linked to several cancers, and physical activity has been seen to have a positive effect on reducing cancer risk in general."

"Other common risk factors that need to be eliminated, or at least minimized, are tobacco and alcohol intake, as both are linked to a significant number of cancers. Smoking, for example, is not only a risk factor for lung and esophageal cancer, but other types including bladder cancer, where it is a leading risk factor due to the presence of carcinogens in urine. The WHO estimates that tobacco accounts for at least 25% of all cancer deaths globally," he says.

 "Leading a healthy lifestyle is important even if someone does develop cancer. Treatment outcomes are likely better if the patient is as healthy as possible when they begin treatment, and the likelihood of recurrence may be reduced," he says. Dr. Shepard points out that these lifestyle modifications are also beneficial in reducing risks for other chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

In addition to lifestyle modifications, individuals can help protect themselves by undergoing recommended screenings to identify cancer and initiate treatment early to improve outcomes. "If caught early, while the cancer is localized and hasn't spread to other parts of the body, it can often be completely removed through radiotherapy or surgery. However, if the cancer is found at stage 4 — meaning it has already spread throughout the body — a form of chemotherapy will be needed," he explains. "With chemotherapy, the entire body is treated with medication that can control tumor growth and symptoms, but it is more difficult to eliminate the cancer completely."

Dr. Shepard says there are well-established screening guidelines for cervical; colon; breast; and prostate cancer; and, for smokers, lung cancer screening. Patients can consult with their physicians to discuss their risk profile and medical history to determine which screenings are necessary.

Future developments

In the future, Dr. Shepard says, it is likely that genetic testing will be used to better identify candidates who will benefit most from screening. "This will be particularly helpful, for example, in the current epidemic of patients developing colon cancer in their 20s and 30s as these age groups are not routinely screened for colon cancer," he says.

Genomic testing is also beginning to be used to determine the treatment method, he adds. At Cleveland Clinic, patients are offered an advanced genomic testing platform as standard of care. "We are learning more about cancers at a DNA level, which allows us to treat the cancer based on the characteristics of the tumor itself, rather than the area of the body in which it is found. Clinical trials are underway at Cleveland Clinic to test treatments that may target these genetic alterations found through genomic testing," he says.

Among other screening advances, Cleveland Clinic recently participated in a trial to evaluate the clinical use of a blood test that has the ability to detect more than 50 cancers at early stages, and these types of tests could be further expanded and developed, Dr. Shepard says.

"This is why, in addition to highlighting prevention and screening, World Cancer Day is vital in spreading awareness of the continued need for cancer research," he concludes.

-ENDS-

About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best hospitals in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survey. Among Cleveland Clinic's 70,800 employees worldwide are more than 4,660 salaried physicians and researchers, and 18,500 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,500-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 19 hospitals, more than 220 outpatient facilities, and locations in southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2020, there were 8.7 million total outpatient visits, 273,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 217,000 surgical cases throughout Cleveland Clinic's health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/ClevelandClinic. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.