Experts emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis in leading a healthy life recommend screening 10 years before the age of the person if there is a hereditary disease in the person's family. For example, the children of a person who gets cancer at the age of 50 should have a check-up from the age of 40. Experts point out the importance of early diagnosis in breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer.
Dr. Güzin Oğuz Yıldırım, Internal Medicine Specialist at Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital, points out the importance of early diagnosis.
Screening and examinations should be personalized
Stating that the screening and examinations performed by health institutions under various check-up packages are early diagnosis, Dr. Güzin Oğuz Yıldırım said, "These screening and examinations should be personalized. First of all, the patient should be interviewed and their complaints, habits, eating habits, diet, occupation, genetic diseases originating from the family should be discussed in advance. After obtaining the necessary information, a systemic examination should be performed and screening tests should be determined according to the age group and risk factors."
It is possible to take precautions with very simple tests
Stating that these screening tests differ according to gender and age group, Yıldırım said, "For example, prostate cancer, which is common in men, can be detected with a simple screening and its treatment is very simple and short. Breast cancer and cervical cancer in women are quite common in the world. With very simple tests, it can be determined whether a person has these diseases and precautions can be taken beforehand. Again, colon cancer, which is very common and has a high mortality rate, can be detected and prevented with very simple tests."
If there is a hereditary disease in the family, screening should be done
Stating that if there is a hereditary disease in the family of the person, the person should be screened 10 years before the age of the person, Dr. Güzin Oğuz Yıldırım said, "For example, the children of a person who has cancer at the age of 50 should have a check-up from the age of 40. For breast cancer, we perform examinations with mammography over the age of 40, hand examination in the 20s and breast ultrasounds from the age of 30. Since colon cancer is very common after a certain age, a special age range has been set worldwide. Above the age of 50, we have to determine their follow-up and periods according to the results obtained by blood test in feces and colonoscopy method every 10 years."
Stating that they perform personal check-ups for their patients with follow-ups and treatments, Dr. Yıldırım said that they offer chest X-rays, heart radiography, biochemical parameters checked in the blood, urine tests, ultrasound or more advanced technological products to patients in early diagnosis applications.
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Stating that these scans are called packages, Dr. Güzin Oğuz Yıldırım said, "For example, we call 30 pack years, that is, it can be expressed as 1 pack of cigarettes a day for 30 years, but 2 packs of cigarettes a day for 15 years corresponds to 30 packs from 15 times 2. In cases such as lung cancer in the family, smoking for more than 30 years and if it has not been more than 15 years since quitting smoking, we perform low-dose medicated lung tomography as NPISTANBUL Hospital in patients over the age of 55."
The purpose of check-up is not to find a disease
Noting that people can define check-ups but are not aware of taking precautions, Yıldırım said, "People have problems with their weight and eating habits, but they do not feel the need to have a check-up, saying that nothing will happen. The purpose of the check-up is not to find a disease in the person, but to express to them that those areas and tissues are healthy. There is no reason for them to worry in front of the physician."
How can I take better care of this machine?
Stating that the diagnosis of chronic diseases is gradually decreasing in terms of age today, Yıldırım stated that early diagnosis is important and made the following recommendations:
"We start diagnosing hyper blood pressure in our 20s. This is due to factors such as industrial nutrition and inactivity. We need to think of our body as a machine. We need to think about how we can take better care of this machine instead of choosing nutrition according to our taste. People even take care of their cars, but we should know that we need to take care of our own bodies first. Of course, we need to choose the right hands for this, the right approaches should be preferred, and we should actually talk to the physician."
All branches should evaluate
Dr. Güzin Oğuz Yıldırım pointed out the importance of the evaluation of all branches in early diagnosis and said, "Appropriate referrals such as gynecology, urology, ear, nose and throat should also be made. Patients should be directed not only to physical treatment but also to psychologists and psychiatrists for their intellectual and mental conditions, if needed."
