Latest news with #earlyDetection
Globe and Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
DIAGNOS Welcomes Former White House Economic Adviser Dr. Tomas J. Philipson to its Advisory Board for the US Market
BROSSARD, Quebec, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diagnos Inc. ('DIAGNOS' or the 'Corporation') (TSX Venture: ADK, OTCQB: DGNOF, FWB: 4D4A), a pioneer in early detection of critical health issues using advanced technology based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), is thrilled to announce that Dr. Tomas J. Philipson has joined the Corporation's Advisory Board. Dr. Tomas J. Philipson is considered an expert in US economic policy, particularly health care policy and appears often on major media outlets, including Forbes, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNN, BBC, CBS, ABC, CNBC, Fox News, Fox Business, Newsmax, Yahoo Finance, American Voice, Bloomberg, and CSPAN. He currently serves as Managing Partner of the VC firm MEDA Ventures, serves on several corporate boards, and has co-founded several companies, including Precision Health Economics LLC, with an exit in 2015 (currently owned by Blackstone). His government service includes a full-time position as vice chairman and acting chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers 2017-20. He previously served as a senior economic adviser to the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a senior economic advisor to the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Dr. Philipson was appointed to the Key Indicator Commission by the Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2012. He was a scientific advisor to the House of Representatives initiative 21st Century Cures in 2015 and The Biden Cancer Initiative in 2017. He served as a healthcare advisor to Senator John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign. He received numerous worldwide research awards while he was a chaired professor at the University of Chicago. He is a two-time winner of the Arrow Award of The International Health Economics Association, the highest honor in health economics. Other awards include the Garfield Award for Economic Research, the Prêmio Haralambos Simeonidis from the Brazilian Economic Association, and the Milken Institute's Distinguished Economic Research Award. He received a B.A. in mathematics from Uppsala University in Sweden, an MA in Mathematics from Claremont Graduate School, and an MA and Ph.D. in Economics from the Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania. 'We are honored to welcome Dr. Philipson to our Advisor Board,' said André Larente, President and CEO of DIAGNOS. 'His extensive experience at the highest levels of government and business savvy brings a vital perspective to today's policy challenges, from healthcare innovation to long-term economic competitiveness.' Mr. Larente added, 'DIAGNOS has built an AI platform to analyze retina images, these images are taken by thousands of optometrists worldwide. According to the VisionWatch data, the US saw approximately 111 million routine eye exams and 60 million medical eye exams in 2020. DIAGNOS, along with its partners, can address this growing market.' DIAGNOS recently opened its US office in south Florida to support its prospects and clients. About DIAGNOS DIAGNOS is a publicly traded Canadian corporation dedicated to early detection of critical eye-related health problems. By leveraging Artificial Intelligence, DIAGNOS aims to provide more information to healthcare clinicians to enhance diagnostic accuracy, streamline workflows, and improve patient outcomes on a global scale. Additional information is available at and Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Harbinger Health Showcases Multi-Cancer Early Detection Performance in High-Risk Populations at ASCO 2025
Reflex blood-based multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test demonstrated clinically meaningful per-cancer Positive Predictive Value (PPV) and early-stage sensitivity for multiple cancers with elevated incidence and mortality in a high-risk population Data to be presented at ASCO's Clinical Science Symposium on the future of cancer detection CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Harbinger Health, a biotechnology company pioneering the detection of early cancer, today announced clinical data demonstrating the performance of its blood-based MCED test across multiple high-incidence, high-mortality cancers, including those disproportionately affecting individuals with obesity, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois. Results highlight the potential of Harbinger's ctDNA-methylation-based assay and reflex testing paradigm to address gaps in population-level early cancer detection, particularly for cancers without established screening programs, and in high-risk patient populations with limited clinical guidelines. 'The results from our study demonstrate the robust early-stage performance of our test across multiple cancer types. While the obesity-associated subset demonstrates our ability to target high-risk groups, the broader results underscore the platform's potential across a wide range of deadly cancers that lack mechanisms for effective, large-scale early detection via routine screening,' said Hutan Ashrafian, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., Chief Medical Officer of Harbinger Health. 'The analysis that we are presenting at ASCO validates the alignment between our test performance and disease burden and reflects our commitment to designing a test for those who need it most, when it matters most.' Harbinger's test uses specific proprietary methylation patterns of cell-free ctDNA in blood to detect the presence of cancer. The company has developed a platform that combines unique insights into the biology of cancer's origin with artificial intelligence and analytical and methodological innovations to create novel diagnostic and screening products in multiple clinical settings and cancer indications. Harbinger's reflex test system uses a two-step approach. The primary methylome profiling test is optimized for high sensitivity to rule out disease. This is followed by a confirmatory reflex test with an expanded methylation panel designed to improve PPV, rule in the presence of cancer, and identify tissue of origin (TOO). Harbinger conducted the Cancer ORigin Epigenetics-Harbinger Health (CORE-HH) study (NCT05435066) with Sarah Cannon Research Institute to validate and further develop Harbinger's platform. The multi-center, case-controlled study enrolled approximately 8,095 subjects from 126 sites across the U.S. and included two groups: a cancer group of treatment-naïve patients with confirmed diagnoses across 20+ solid and hematologic tumor types, and a non-cancer (control) group of individuals without suspected cancer at enrollment. All participants provided a single blood sample, and controls were followed for one year to confirm their cancer-free status. Dax Kurbegov, M.D., Senior Vice President at HCA Healthcare Sarah Cannon Cancer Network, will present the findings from the obesity cohort of the CORE-HH study at a Clinical Science Symposium entitled 'The Future of Cancer Detection is Coming' from 8:00-9:30 a.m. CDT on Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Hall D1 of the McCormick Place Chicago Convention Center. Key highlights from the presentation include: The test cohort, consisting of 762 individuals with obesity, was assembled from the CORE-HH study and had a mean age of 57.1 ± 13.4 years and were 63.3% female, 22.4% Black or African American, and 67.8% White. The distribution of cancer types evaluated in this study was breast, uterine, lung, lymphoid-line, prostate, colorectal, pancreas, upper GI (includes esophageal, esophagogastric junction, and gastric), head and neck, liver, biliary tract, and others. Cancer types grouped under 'Others' were not used to train the TOO model due to low sample counts. These include ovarian, renal, anal, neuroendocrine, cervical, melanoma, bladder, myeloid, soft tissue, sarcoma, among others. At 98.3% specificity, the reflex test achieved conventional sensitivities of 25.8% for early-stage (I-II) cancer and 80.3% for late-stage (III-IV) cancer. At 98.3% specificity, the reflex test achieved a conventional sensitivity of 50.9% for cancers without a screening program in the U.S. general population. Cancers with screening programs in the U.S. general population that were excluded are breast, colorectal, lung, prostate, and cervix. Overall intrinsic accuracy - the proportion of correct TOO readouts among cases with a corresponding readout category - was 36%. TOO-specific performance as measured by PPV for the following cancers was hepatobiliary (15%), upper GI (22%), colorectal (33%), and lung cancer (25%). In a modeled 100,000-person cohort, the test identified 51 of 86 pancreaticobiliary cancers, including 8 of 31 at early-stage. Dr. Kurbegov commented: 'These data introduce for the first time a metric for intrinsic accuracy to measure a test's ability to correctly identify both a cancer signal and its tissue of origin. This is a more stringent and clinically relevant result as compared to conventional sensitivity, which has been the current industry standard and does not provide information on the location of cancer within an individual. Measuring per-cancer PPV, combined with the reflex test design, are novel aspects of Harbinger's approach that may support stratified diagnostic and follow-up strategies that could help physicians tailor downstream evaluation and management according to the likely tissue of origin and associated benefit-risk considerations. These advances solve some of the most confounding challenges we currently face in our ability to make the most of blood-based tools for early cancer detection. Given these technological advances and study results, I am optimistic that the future of cancer detection is bright and close at hand.' Obesity is estimated to contribute to ~84,000 new cancer cases in the U.S. annually1,2, and the incidence of obesity-related cancers has increased substantially over the past two decades3. Thirteen obesity-associated cancers represent ~40% of cancer diagnoses in the U.S.4, and most of these cancers, such as pancreatic, liver, and endometrial, do not have screening programs available. About Harbinger Health Harbinger Health is leading a transformation in early cancer detection, introducing fundamentally new approaches to screening, diagnosis, and management. The company combines advances in artificial intelligence with proprietary insights into the biology of the beginnings of cancer to identify cancer before it is visible or symptomatic with the aim of developing a low-cost, multi-cancer blood test. Harbinger envisions a future where, instead of keeping cancer from spreading, it could be kept from forming, making a cancer diagnosis a routine health problem to be addressed rather than a life-altering event to be feared with profound implications for people, healthcare systems and societies. Harbinger was founded by Flagship Pioneering after three years of foundational research in its Labs unit and launched in 2020. Learn more about Harbinger by visiting or following us on LinkedIn. Media Contactpress@ ______________________________________ American Association for Cancer Research. Cancer Progress Report 2024 Ligibel JA, Alfano CM, Courneya KS, et al. American Society of Clinical Oncology position statement on obesity and cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2014 Shiels MS, Haque AT, González AB et al. Trends in Cancer Incidence and Mortality Rates in Early-Onset and Older-Onset Age Groups in the United States, 2010–2019. Cancer Discovery. 2025 National Cancer Institute. Obesity and Cancer Fact Sheet. Updated 2022Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
How to identify if you have 'stage 0' cancer BEFORE any symptoms appear
There's a myriad of reasons – and excuses – people will use to skip a cancer health check screening. Life can get busy, attending an appointment can be complicated and let's face it, there's far more enjoyable things to do with your time. But sticking to the recommended health check screening schedules could potentially be the difference when it comes to early detection of cancer or potentially cancerous cells, also known as Stage 0 cancer. Catching cancer risk sooner than later is the reason why doctors and organisations like Cancer Council Australia continuously spruik the message: 'Early detection saves lives'. The Screening and Immunisation Committee Chair Karen Canfell explained to FEMAIL that the aim of the national cancer screening programs is 'to find and treat cancers in healthy individuals as early as possible or, even better, in a precancerous stage'. The role that regular scheduled screening programs have in this early detection process ties into Stage 0 cancer – and how screenings offer a rare chance to assist with catching cancer risk at an extremely early stage. Understanding Stage 0 cancer and symptoms In cancer diagnoses, staging is used by medical practitioners as a measure of how far a cancer has spread in the body. In its simplest form, Karen explained: 'Stage 1 is a cancer contained in its primary site, Stage 2 cancer has spread to local lymph nodes, Stage 3 to tissue beyond local lymph nodes and Stage 4 cancers have metastasised to other organs and distant parts of the body.' 'Diagnostic tests and examinations will help show if you have cancer, the size of the tumour, if it has spread from the original site to other parts of the body, and whether lymph nodes are affected. These factors are combined to determine which stage a cancer is in, from Stage 1 to 4.' Sitting outside this scale is Stage 0 cancer, also 'referred to as in situ', which is a precursor to all the above stages. 'A collection of abnormal cells that has not yet spread or become invasive is assigned Stage 0, or referred to as in situ, as it is an early form of cancer,' Karen explained. Common cancer symptoms like lumps are rarely associated with a Stage 0 cancer diagnosis – meaning they're almost exclusively detected after participating in a screening program or a self-initiated health check. 'This is why cancer screening is important, as screening programs can identify early-stage cancers and precancerous conditions through signs that might otherwise go unnoticed,' the spokesperson confirmed. 'Often, precancerous or abnormal cell development, like the changes that precede cervical cancer, won't cause symptoms. 'It's also important to know that some cancers, such as breast and bowel cancer, may show no symptoms at any stage of tumour growth.' Karen explained that the cancers most commonly detected at Stage 0 'include breast cancer, prostate cancer and melanoma' – which are also among 'the most common cancers in Australia at all stages of diagnosis combined'. The absence of symptoms accompanying a Stage 0 diagnosis circles back to the importance of stringently adhering to the recommended schedule times from health cancer screenings as an absolute minimum. 'For most cancers, clinical outcomes are better if they are detected and treated at early stage.' Screening programs that could assist in Stage 0 cancer detection At present in Australia, there are organised screening programs available for bowel, cervical and breast cancers, with a lung cancer screening program being introduced in Australia from July. Using the example of National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, the Cancer Council chair explained that when 'detected early, over 90 per cent of bowel cancers can be successfully treated'. 'Between 2021 – 2022, only 40 per cent of eligible Australians participated in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program,' she said. 'We know, through modelling, that if this figure increased to 60 per cent, 84,000 lives could be saved by 2040.' 'The key is, if you are eligible for a cancer screening program, participate – it could save your life, whether that's through detection of a precancerous condition or an early-stage cancer that would have spread if not detected through screening.' So how often should those who are eligible be participating in these screenings? The health expert confirmed that the requirements vary between the screening programs. 'The BreastScreen Australia Program invites women aged 50 – 74 to have a free mammogram every 2 years,' said Karen. The expert explained that women aged 40 - 49 and those aged over 74 are also eligible to receive free mammograms, but will not receive a direct reminder notification. 'To participate in the program, you need to book in for an appointment at a BreastScreen Australia clinic,' Karen added. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is an at-home test called a faecal occult blood test (FOBT), which is mailed to people aged 50-74 every two years. Additionally, people aged 45 – 49 can also request to be sent a kit through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Register. 'This test looks for traces of blood in the poo which you collect two samples of and mail it to a pathology lab for analysis,' Karen explained. 'If your result is positive, follow-up tests, like a colonoscopy, are recommended to determine the origin and cause of the blood.' The National Cervical Screening Program is open to women aged between 25-75, and they're invited to screen every five years. 'The test looks for signs of HPV, which causes 93 per cent of cervical cancers, and other pre-cancerous abnormalities, which if left untreated may progress to cervical cancer,' Karen said. 'The program offers two screening options – self-collection or clinical-collection.' You can find out more about your eligibility for the National Breast, Bowel and Cervical Cancer Screening Programs HERE. The new National Lung Cancer Screening Program starting in July is for Australians aged 50 -70 as well as those who currently smoke or have quit smoking in the past 10 years and have a heavy smoking history. Australians will need to speak to their GP to be referred to the screening program. 'The test involves undergoing a low-dose CT scan, which takes around 10-15 minutes,' Karen explained. Staying on screening track If you have gone longer than the recommended amount of time between screening appointments, the health expert suggests doing it sooner than later. 'If you're eligible for one of these screening programs and you've put off or missed participating in one, it's important to make sure you catch up.' The health expert adds that it's important to remember that 'most screening tests are not diagnostic tests – and are most often used to look for 'early indicators of cancer', which are then subsequently 'used alongside other tests to determine cancer diagnosis'. 'That's why it's also important to get to know your own body and keep an eye out for any unusual changes,' she said. 'If you notice any changes, such as a lump in your breast or a spot growing on your skin, it's important to see your doctor for further investigations.' Next steps: what happens after a Stage 0 cancer diagnosis If a screening followed by further diagnostics returns a Stage 0 cancer diagnosis, Karen said the upside is that most cancers diagnosed at Stage 0 'will have a good treatment outcome'. 'Outcomes can, however, vary, given there are more than 200 cancer types and subtypes,' she added. Following a Stage 0 cancer diagnosis, Karen explained that your doctor will advise the best suited treatment plan for your situation and cancer type. Some of the common cancer treatment options 'include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy'. But in the case of a Stage 0 diagnosis, Karen noted that none of these measures may be initially necessary. 'Your doctor may also advise that you need routine monitoring, but do not need active treatment.' There's never a good time to find out you have cancer. But if you do, finding out that it's at Stage 0, or cancer in situ, increases the amount of time for investigation and treatment options to be fully explored. Beyond adhering closely to the national schedule screenings and being vigilant about health self-checks, Karen also suggests some other simple lifestyle measures. 'For all cancers, the keys for prevention are aiming to lead a cancer-smart lifestyle,' she explained. 'Not smoking, protecting yourself from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, having a healthy diet and exercise, moderating alcohol use – and screening for cancer if eligible and having regular health checks.'
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cancer Patients Reveal The Symptom That Made Them Think Something Might Be Wrong
Being diagnosed with cancer is one of the scariest things imaginable. But a cancer diagnosis doesn't have to be a death sentence. There is hope for recovery, especially with early detection. That's why it's so important to listen to your body when it tells you something is wrong. Over on Quora, hundreds of people answered the questions What symptoms did you notice before being diagnosed with cancer? and If you've had cancer, looking back, what was your very first symptom that you didn't think was one? Check out some of their stories hopefully will act as an essential reminder to listen to our bodies and not put off getting checked out when we feel anything might be off. 1."I noticed that every time I ate, I had to poo. I really didn't think anything about it until I did some hard drinking one weekend. On Tuesday, I went to the ER and was diagnosed with a swollen pancreas and esophageal bleeding. I was admitted to the hospital and then found I had Stage III pancreatic cancer. It took me four years and 119 lbs, but I've been cancer-free for 3 1/2 years." —HCKrod314, Quora 2."I was chewing ice a lot! This was new for me. My MD said it could be because of anemia, so he gave me a blood test. Yup, I had anemia. He wanted to know where my blood was going, so he suggested a colonoscopy. I was not thrilled, but said, 'OK.' It came back positive for rectal cancer. I had radiation, chemotherapy, and three surgeries over the next 18 months. Permanent colostomy now. But I'm alive! It's been 4+ years now. ALWAYS say 'yes' to tests your MD wants to run, especially the dreaded colonoscopy (which, by the way, isn't that bad because you're unconscious for it)!" —Renee, Quora 3."My Mom gave me a shirt as a gift. When I took off the one I was wearing to try it on, she spotted a black mole on my back that was nearly an inch long and irregularly shaped like a map of New Guinea. I'd noticed it weeks before and was ignoring it. She said, 'You make an appointment with my dermatologist right now!' You don't argue with my Mom. So I went. The doctor cut it out immediately, and the pathologist's report came back: malignant melanoma. Luckily, it was in situ (editor's note: meaning it hadn't spread). My mother gave me life, again." —David J. Winter, Quora 4."I had a throbbing sensation at the back of my head. It only lasted maybe 3–5 seconds, but I felt it whenever I strained (like to lift something heavy) or when I tilted my head down. It began happening more and more frequently, so I went to see my nurse practitioner. At first, he thought neck spasms might be causing it, but he ordered an MRI based on the frequency. The MRI revealed an almost 4cm brain tumor in my cerebellum. When it was excised and biopsied, it was determined to be Medulloblastoma — the most common brain tumor in children but extremely rare in adults, especially women. I was 38. I had my third tumor removed on 10/2023. So far, so good! The Lord has blessed me time after time!" —Keri Marlar, Quora 5."I peed. A lot. Frequently. At first, they tested for diabetes, but that wasn't it. Long story short, they found a tumor; I had radiation therapy to get rid of it, and that tumor hasn't come back for 30 years!" —Daniel Singer, Quora 6."I had swollen glands in my neck that hurt badly to the touch, but otherwise, I did not feel sick. I assumed I just had a seasonal bug, but it was nothing like I had ever experienced. One year later, after my diagnosis of uterine cancer, it was explained to me that the lymph nodes can swell up as an early reaction to abnormal cell activity, even if elsewhere in the body. About three months before my diagnosis, I started running a low-grade fever, which was quite unusual for me. I was unaware of it until I got my annual flu shot, and my doctor told me to return in a week when my fever was gone. The fever didn't go away. Later, it was explained as a 'cancer fever,' which some people get — another natural defense mechanism of the body." "Then, about two months before my diagnosis, I started experiencing severe lower back pain and pelvic cramps. That is what ultimately led me to my ob-gyn. It was a tricky diagnosis. Even a biopsy did not indicate cancer, but the doctor decided to perform a D&C as an extra measure, and that is how the cancer was found. Surgery and radiation were the treatment plans. That was three years ago. I just had a PET SCAN, which showed I am now cancer-free, but I remain under surveillance for two more years." —Jill Andrea Lambert, Quora Related: 51 People Who Quickly Discovered Why Their Hilariously Clueless Partner Was Single Before Meeting Them 7."My friend Cathy was probably late 40s or early 50s. She and her husband wanted to live off the grid and participate in the world only on their terms. One day, she and her husband came down the mountain to visit; they lived two hours north. She mentioned that they were about ready for her husband to quit his job, and then they'd sell everything and start over in another state." "'Before I tell him to quit, I'd like to get your opinion,' she said. 'Let's go into the bathroom. I want to show you something.' This wasn't something I expected or anticipated. She lowered her pants and had me look just above her buttocks. There was a three-inch growth that resembled a worm. It was large, thick, and angry-looking. 'Don't let him quit his job yet,' I said. 'You need a doctor first. Do it while you still have insurance.' 'What do you think it is?' 'That's way above my pay grade,' I said. I'm not medical in any way, shape, or form.' The next week, she saw her primary care doctor, who turned her over to a specialist, which kind, I don't know. 'Thanks for telling me to see the doctor,' she said. 'He's going to hang in until we get to the bottom of this.' My friend had anal cancer. Because she wanted to handle her healing herself, she went with a natural approach and ate only things with no mothers and no faces and watched only old screwball comedies on TV. In three years, she went from an 85% survival rate to terminal. By the time she went back to a 'normal' doctor, she was inoperable and in tremendous pain. Hospice wouldn't provide her with enough pain medication to control her pain. It was a horrible death. In a nutshell, noticing something unusual needs to be investigated. Only you really know your body; keep looking for answers." —Lisa Dooley Fisk, Quora 8."I had a sharp pain in my left breast throughout one day last summer. I never had this before or since. But this pain made me think I should check my breasts as I never do. To cut a long story short, I found out I had HER2 +++ breast cancer in my left breast. Surgery, chemo, radiotherapy, and I'm back at work nine months later. Hoping all will be well." —Nicolette Loftus, Quora 9."It was 2016. I started a walking program—10,000 steps daily. After six weeks, I noticed a nagging ache in my lower back. It persisted for about three weeks, and I thought I'd pulled a muscle. I was also an avid popcorn addict. One Saturday evening, I ate a bag of microwave popcorn. By midnight, I was in agony. I told my adult daughter (an RN) I was going to the ER to be treated for diverticulitis — it runs in my family. She told me not to tell the ER my 'self-diagnosis,' and I said, 'Of course not. I'm going to tell him my symptoms, and he's going to tell me I have diverticulitis.' I still remember the shock when the ER doctor came in and said, 'Well, I have some bad news. It's not diverticulitis (I had not mentioned the condition to him). I'm certain it's ovarian cancer, and we have a specialist coming in to see you. She'll be here within a few hours. It was a Sunday morning. She was there before 8 a.m." "Today, I'm a six-year ovarian cancer survivor because it was detected early, aggressive treatment was started immediately, and I had the support of my family and an incredible medical team. (My oncologist is Dr. Hope! Isn't that the best possible name?)" —Laura Jones, Quora 10."At 33, I did a self-exam after taking a shower and found a lump. It didn't seem really big, but enough in size that I knew it was unusual. I was in bed with my then-husband and asked him if he felt it. He did and said he would call the doctor the next day and set up an appointment. We had three small children in elementary school, so I got them up and off to school. After they left, I did a double-check to make sure I wasn't imagining things and found a much larger lump on the baseline of my breast. Breast cancer runs in my family, so I was pretty sure what I found was breast cancer. I tried to stay upbeat until I got the official diagnosis, but deep down, I knew I was in for a rough road. I was correct it was stage 3 cancer. That was 22 years ago, and I'm still here." "Five years later, I had another diagnosis of cancer, but it was caught early, and it was stage one. I didn't feel that one — it was found on a mammogram. But months before, I felt extremely tired and had trouble staying awake during the day. I always wondered if that was a sign that something wasn't right with my body. The tiredness got better once my treatments were finished. Who knows. I am blessed to be here still, though!" —Vicki Stevens, Quora Related: 27 Horrifying Deaths People Can Never, Ever, Ever, Ever Forget Because They Were That Bad 11."All I had was a mouth ulcer. It wasn't even particularly painful, but then my cat started acting oddly — sniffing at my mouth, pressing her head under my chin. I went to see my GP and three weeks later was diagnosed with carcinoma. Sadly, my cancer had been growing for months inside the muscle of my tongue. I'd had a few odd symptoms during that time, but nothing that gave me any indication it was cancer. If I hadn't gone to the doctor when I did, I wonder how long I'd have waited. I've heard stories about animals sensing cancer and other illnesses but never really believed it until now!" —Lyndsey Chapman, Quora 12."For five years, I had occasional bright red blood in my poop. Dr. Google said I had hemorrhoids, so I never thought much about it after that. It was only when I developed uterine cancer that the CT scan showed a 4cm tumor in my colon. At that point, it was already stage 3, and I thank god for the uterine cancer (Stage 1, cured), or I would likely be dead from the colon cancer. Never, EVER trust Dr. Google and get any bleeding checked, no matter how small." –Shelley Heich, Quora 13."I had a fungal infection under my thumbnail. It was no big deal, but it was annoying because it was unsightly and did not respond to any medication, even very expensive ones. I treated it for eight months without results. During a routine exam, my PSA levels were high; upon retesting, they were normal, then a month later, they were high again. The suspicion was that I had prostate cancer, but an ultrasound revealed that I had bladder cancer and a separate kidney cancer. Stage 3 for both. The removal of my kidney, three procedures to burn away the bladder cancer, six rounds of chemotherapy, and heaps of MRIs and cystoscopies took a year. I have been cancer-free now for ten years." "The strange part was that despite not being treated for the duration of my cancer treatment, the fungus infection healed up all by itself. That fungal infection was the only indication that I had a serious problem." —John Fenn, Quora 14."Not me, but my husband. I noticed that his breath had become unpleasant. The problem increased until his breath was foul. I insisted he see a dentist, and the dentist found no problem with his mouth. Getting him to make an appointment with his doctor for no reason other than bad breath was hard, but eventually, he went. The doctor sent him for some tests that are routine for a man of his age. When the test results came back, she sent him for a biopsy on his prostate. The test results could have indicated cancer or only an infection. The biopsy proved that he had prostate cancer. After the surgery, his breath returned to normal." —Pam Johnson, Quora 15."During the last 4-5 years, I have had a dry cough a few times a year. I would cough for a few days, and then the cough would go away. Finally, in October 2022, I went to a doctor to discuss my cough. She did an x-ray of my chest and found a growth between my heart and lung. Further investigation (a few biopsies later) showed that I had Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The cardiovascular surgeon, pulmonologist, and oncologist all said that the coughing was most likely caused by the tumor pressing against a nerve (I think it's called the vagus nerve). Since starting chemotherapy, I no longer have the cough." "December 2023 UPDATE: One year has passed. I had six months (12 infusions) of hard chemotherapy, and as of the end of September 2023, I was told that the cancer was in remission." —Richard, Quora 16."The very first symptom was pain in my lower abdomen. It came and went, and I convinced myself it wasn't serious. On some level, though, I knew something was wrong. This went on for a couple of years. I began to lose weight uncontrollably. I blamed it on how much exercise I was doing. I started eating more. I stopped being very active and still became scarily skinny. I thought it was weird that my pants felt so snug around my waist. It was because of the skinniness that I saw it. I was lying on my back, and when I lifted my head, I could see a huge lump in my lower abdomen. I went to the ER because it freaked me out. They referred me to an oncologist. It was a huge (20x10cm) tumor on my right ovary (mucinous adenocarcinoma). That is how I first noticed my ovarian cancer. It was a long journey, but that was five years ago, and I have recently been declared CURED!!!" —Tiger Lily, Quora 17."I was the only one who noticed my husband had a strong offensive odor ( to me) that seeped into his clothing, bedding, and soft furnishings. I asked his doctor about it and only got a strange look. After three years of this, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The odor disappeared after surgery cured him of cancer." —Ann Ette, Quora 18."Mine was really odd: I noticed a small FLAT spot on the side of my breast that didn't go away. I got it sampled, and it was breast cancer. So it's not always a discernible lump — sometimes it's a flat place or an actual depression in the skin. And no one had ever told me that, so please, if you notice a change — any change — in your body, please see a doctor as soon as you can." —Patricia Marshall, Quora 19."On the day of my college farewell party, I (20 then, now 22) distinctly remember asking my roommate, 'Do I look fat? I think my belly is getting bigger; It feels tight.' After a month, I started facing problems with breathing; I thought my asthma was back (I had a history of childhood asthma). I (with my mom) went to a doctor, saying I felt uncomfortable and my stomach looked big. He told my mother, 'You know today's generation, they sleep late, wake up late, don't eat on time. It's just acidity, madam.' Boom, one week later, I was diagnosed with third stage ovarian cancer. It was a kilogram of tumor. My periods were very regular and I had no early symptoms. I advise you to get yourself checked for cancer. It really is late when you're diagnosed." —Dyk, Quora 20."I honestly didn't notice the ones that should have been obvious: fatigue and night sweats. To be honest, even if I had seen those symptoms listed somewhere, I wouldn't have expected that at age 22, non-Hodgkins lymphoma would be the cause. Then, one Saturday morning, as I attempted to move my bowels, the tumor perforated my intestine, releasing half-digested food into my gut. This is called peritonitis and is equivalent to a burst appendix. The pain was immediate, intense, and enough to get me to an emergency room. Thirteen weeks later, I had completed chemotherapy AND my bachelor's degree. I'm 58 now." —Curt Wiederhoeft, Quora 21."I was exceptionally tired. The tiredness was like nothing I had ever felt in my 42 years; it made me feel sick to my stomach. I was also pale, although I didn't realize it until someone asked me if I was ill. The most obvious sign was bleeding when I used the bathroom. It had started as an occasional spot/drop in my underwear (Had I scratched myself? Was it vaginal spotting?). Later, there was a blood spatter in the toilet. I finally had a colonoscopy and was diagnosed with colon cancer (I assumed I was too young — not at all, it turns out). Had surgery and chemo. That was 21 years ago." "But, four years after that cancer, I was diagnosed with very early ovarian cancer. It turns out colon/ovarian/ breast are related in some people. That cancer had no symptoms. It was found because I knew the connection between the three cancers and did aggressive follow-up. The doctor spotted an ovarian tumor so small that it couldn't be felt if he were to examine the ovary. Turns out my peritoneum was loaded with tiny tumors. Lesson: colon cancer w/symptoms saved my life. I never would have found the ovarian if I hadn't been doing serious follow-up. That cancer was 17 years ago." —Kris Webb, Quora Some entries have been edited for length and/or clarity. Also in Internet Finds: 15 Facebook Marketplace Items You'll Wish, From The Depths Of Your Soul, You Could Unsee Also in Internet Finds: People Are Confessing Their Absolute Pettiest "Revenge Served Cold" Stories, And It's Deliciously Entertaining Also in Internet Finds: My Innocence Has Been Destroyed After Learning These Terrible, Disturbing, And Creepy Things
CTV News
24-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
How early skin cancer detection saves lives
Winnipeg Watch The importance of early skin cancer detection leads MedicalWatch for May 23, 2025.
