Ensuring good health involves both following a healthy lifestyle and taking necessary precautions, such as scheduling regular health checkups to screen for illnesses. Some of the most essential screenings today are used to determine different types of cancer. There are over 18 million cases of cancer diagnosed each year, which makes screening extremely essential. On that note, below is some essential information about cancer screening kits.
At-home tests
Those who are considering an at-home cancer screening test should note that it might fall under one of three categories. These include:
- Self-test
Individuals are required to perform the entire process of collecting and interpreting the results. Most tests render results within an hour or less. - Self-collection test
The patient collects a sample and sends it to the laboratory for analysis. The results are later sent to the person electronically. - Home-ordered test
In this type of test, the individual orders a test online or over the phone. However, the sample collection and analysis are conducted in a laboratory.
MCD screening kits
While some tests are dedicated to detecting one type of cancer, these days, experts may recommend multi-cancer detection tests (MCD) to measure biological signals in body fluids that are likely triggered by cancer cells. These are known as biomarkers or tumor markers. Furthermore, based on which signals the multi-cancer detection test measures, the screening may detect several types of cancer. Those who take this test may receive two possible results. The first is where no cancer signal is detected, which means there is no cancer DNA detected in their bloodstream. The second is where a cancerous signal is detected, which suggests the individual might be at risk of cancer. If a mutation is detected, some MCD tests may help identify the affected organ.
The expert may then order other screening tests to confirm the presence of cancer. These include:
- Physical examinations
- Laboratory tests
- Imaging tests
- Genetic tests
The results of these tests many not be 100% accurate. Therefore, it is advised to consult an oncologist for a thorough checkup.
Advantages of screening kits
The advantages of an effective cancer screening kits include:
- Looking for changes in the body that may go unnoticed
- Early detection of cancer to prevent its progression
- Reducing the chance of the development of painful cancer-related symptoms