Early Detection

Even with the best preventive approach, as of today, we can only lower but not eliminate the possibility of falling prey to certain severe diseases. Therefore, we perform various tests to catch any unfortunate development as early as possible, to start treatment while there is still little or no harm.

Monitoring

Yearly Checkup

Most of the tests and procedures should be performed yearly for early detection. Comparing the results of these tests over multiple years allows us to detect slowly developing malignancies that might not be directly visible during a single annual checkup.

Full Blood Panel

A complete lab panel is performed. Lab work to analyze the samples usually takes a few days to a week. The results are used to evaluate blood composition, liver and kidney health, and iron and protein metabolism. All the risk factors mentioned in Functional Testing are assessed and help us detect developing or ongoing significant malfunctions.

Once a year, we additionally take the “Essential Fatty Acid” and the “Micro-nutrients” blood test.

Lab Panel

Tumor Markers

There is no 100% reliable blood marker for early cancer detection today. Tumor markers have a possibility of false negatives, which means that even if they are not elevated, we might still have cancer under development. On the other hand, a raised tumor marker does not necessarily imply that cancer is under development, since other causes might elevate these markers. Nevertheless, they are the best we can do today. However imperfect, these tests offer us a better chance of catching something nasty early.

The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is associated with colorectal carcinoma. CEA levels may also be raised in gastric carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma, lung carcinoma, breast carcinoma, and medullary thyroid carcinoma; in conditions like ulcerative colitis, pancreatitis, cirrhosis, COPD, Crohn’s disease, and hypothyroidism; as well as in smokers.

Healthy CEA: < 4.0 ng/ml

Prostate cancer is by far the most common cancer in aging men. Fortunately, the blood marker prostate-specific antigen (PSA) allows early detection. Elevated PSA readings indicate unhealthy activity, such as prostatitis, benign prostate hypertrophy, or prostate cancer. PSA is not only a blood marker but a risk factor on its own, since it contributes to the ability of cancer cells to escape the prostate and metastasize somewhere else in the body.

Healthy PSA: < 1 ng/ml

An elevated tumor marker is a reliable indicator for further investigations.

Federal Death Panels (lifeextension.com)

Conventional Ultrasonic

A step-by-step full-body ultrasonic examination of the size and form of all major internal organs, including our major blood vessels, helps us with the early detection of any unfortunate development.

Doppler Ultrasonic

It is used to check all essential blood vessels and shows the blood flow, its speed, and any turbulence in them in real-time. This helps us to detect cardiovascular problems as early as possible.

Doppler Ultrasonography (grokipedia.com)

Lung Function Test

It measures our inhalation and exhalation rate and allows us to judge the volume, strength, and consistency of our lung’s performance. Degradation in any of these parameters is an indication for further investigation.

ECG

Measures the operation of our heart and the master signals that control it. This test will help us to catch a misdevelopment of our cardiovascular system as early as possible.

Conventional Urine Test

By analyzing our urine sample, we can check for significant malfunctions in our body, indicated by the metabolic end-product levels and other substances in the fluid.

Heavy Metal Urine Test

The test, as described in the detox chapter, shows us possible heavy metal intoxication that might pose a serious long-term health risk.

Fecal Occult Blood Test

Starting no later than 50, when colon cancer might be an issue for us, this test allows us to detect microscopic traces of blood in our stool, indicating a possible unfortunate situation developing in our digestive tract long before we might see any other symptoms.

Full-Body MRI

A marvel of modern medical technology, magnetic resonance imaging allows us to get a whole-body, in-depth view of what’s happening inside ourselves using a radiation-free procedure. It is best done with the latest, highest-resolution equipment and a radiologist who loves their profession and takes the time to analyze the output and walk us through the results.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (grokipedia.com)

Skin Cancer Screening

A full-body visual test is done by a dermatologist, checking all of our skin for developing malignancies. Doubtful patches are removed and sent to a lab for further testing. This allows us to catch skin cancer at the earliest possible stage while it is still easily curable.

5-Year Long-Term Testing

In addition to our yearly testing, we perform some tests on a long-term, five-year schedule.

Colonoscopy

This procedure allows a visual examination of the larger intestine to catch any developing colon cancer as early as possible.

Colonoscopy (grokipedia.com)

Gastroscopy

It allows a visual examination of the inside of the gullet, stomach, and duodenum. It can be combined with a colonoscopy to check the upper part of our GI tract.

Gastroscopy (grokipedia.com)

Capsule Colonoscopy

Conventional endoscopic colonoscopy starting at the rectum can only go so far into the body to check the larger intestine. We use video colonoscopy to examine the small intestine, which links the stomach and the large intestine. A little pill that contains a video camera, a flashlight, and a radio transmitter is swallowed. As it travels through the GI tract over 24–48 hours, it takes a picture every second that is wirelessly transmitted to a tiny wearable receiver.

Capsule Colonoscopy (grokipedia.com)

Using the combination of colonoscopy, gastroscopy, and capsule colonoscopy allows us to check our whole GI tract visually.

Coronary Calcium Scan

Coronary calcium scans use “computed tomography” (CT) to check for the buildup of calcium in plaque in the walls of the arteries of the heart. This test is used to monitor for heart disease at an early stage and to determine how severe it is. Coronary calcium scans are also called cardiac calcium scoring.

Coronary CT Calcium Scan (grokipedia.com)

Dental X-Ray

We have a dental x-ray at least every three to five years. If there are indicators for bone loss, a 3D x-ray can help to investigate further. However, this method requires twice as much radiation as a conventional dental x-ray.