Proactive cancer screening is essential for maintaining good health.

Regular cancer screenings are crucial for early detection of cancer signs, even before obvious symptoms appear. This not only increases the chances of successful treatment but also reduces treatment costs and time.

Báo Đà Nẵng•27/08/2025

Da Nang Oncology Hospital is screening for lung cancer using low-dose, non-contrast CT scans of the lungs for the public. Photo: LE HUNG

Effectiveness of minimally invasive treatments in early-stage cancer.

Patient D.TN (58 years old) went for a routine health check-up and was prescribed a colonoscopy for cancer screening by doctors at Da Nang Oncology Hospital.

During the endoscopy, the doctor discovered a carpet-like tumor in the rectum, approximately 7x8cm in size, occupying nearly 3/4 of the circumference of the rectal lumen - a typical morphology of early-stage cancerous lesion.

The patient was scheduled for CT-MRI tests to assess the stage of the disease before treatment intervention. The pathology results of the tumor determined that the patient had early-stage rectal cancer, with cancer cells confined to the mucosal layer and not yet invading the underlying layers.

Thanks to early detection and timely intervention, the patient recovered quickly and was discharged safely just one day after the procedure. This is proof of the effectiveness of minimally invasive treatment in early-stage cancer.

According to Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Son, Head of the Endoscopy and Functional Examination Department (Da Nang Oncology Hospital), gastrointestinal cancers (including esophageal, stomach, and colorectal cancers) are a group of diseases with a high incidence rate. In most cases, gastrointestinal cancers are only detected at an advanced stage, when patients already have clear symptoms.

Treatment at a late stage is often complex, requiring surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy; it also comes with high costs and a high risk of recurrence and metastasis.

Conversely, if detected early, patients can be effectively treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), which allows for complete removal of the lesion without open surgery. This is a highly specialized technique requiring skilled hands and modern equipment.

Currently, Da Nang Oncology Hospital is one of the few units in Central Vietnam that routinely implements ESD techniques in the treatment of early-stage gastrointestinal cancers.

Regular screening: an important measure

According to the leaders of Da Nang Oncology Hospital, regular cancer screening is an important measure to detect early signs of cancer, thereby increasing the chances of successful treatment and improving the quality of life for patients. Many types of cancer can be treated effectively if detected in the early stages, such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, etc.

Doctors at Da Nang Oncology Hospital take mammograms as part of breast cancer screening for residents. Photo: LE HUNG

“Regular screening not only helps detect cancer early but also reduces treatment costs and avoids invasive procedures. Furthermore, screening raises health awareness and encourages people to adopt healthier lifestyles. This is not only an investment in current health but also protection for the future,” emphasized Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hung, Director of the Da Nang Oncology Hospital.

According to the city's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cancer screening is a routine health check-up for asymptomatic individuals aimed at detecting cancer or precancerous conditions early. The goal of screening is to find the disease at the earliest stage, when treatment is most effective and survival rates are higher.

According to Dr. Nguyen Dai Vinh, Director of the Da Nang City CDC, the CDC has proactively coordinated with various units to organize screening programs for common cancers. This aims to help people better understand the importance of cancer screening, as well as provide them with necessary information about the cancers to be screened for and the screening methods available.

Through these programs, the CDC aims to help people understand the true meaning of cancer screening; which cancers require screening and screening methods; and the long-term goal of reducing the misuse of ineffective screening indications.

The city's CDC is very interested in the field of prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, including cancer. Therefore, in addition to raising public awareness about risk factors, promoting healthy living, and vaccination, the unit is developing a plan to screen for cancer in high-risk individuals and manage patients effectively.

According to Globocan data from 2022, five types of cancer in Vietnam have the highest incidence and mortality rates: breast, liver, lung, colorectal, and stomach cancer. Cancers with high incidence and mortality rates, and those with valuable screening methods and effective treatments if detected early, are recommended for screening.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/chu-dong-tam-soat-ung-thu-de-bao-dam-suc-khoe-3300420.html