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How do colonoscopy, mammography, and Pap tests help detect cancer early?
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A health care worker giving a polio vaccine to a child in Katsina state, Nigeria, 2014.
Screening procedures like colonoscopy, mammography, and Pap tests are vital for early cancer detection, which significantly improves the likelihood of successful treatment.123
- Mammography: This procedure uses X-ray technology to identify lesions in breast tissue. It is often capable of detecting abnormalities before they are palpable during a physical examination, allowing for intervention when the disease is most susceptible to treatment.14
- Pap smear: This screening involves collecting cells from the cervix to be examined microscopically for precancerous or cancerous changes. By identifying these abnormalities early, the test has been instrumental in reducing the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer.2
- Colonoscopy: This examination allows a physician to view the interior of the colon and rectum using a specialized camera. It serves as a critical screening tool because it can identify and remove polyps—abnormal growths that may be precancerous—thereby preventing the development of colorectal cancer.3