TWO STRATEGIES FOR EARLY CANCER DETECTION (literature review)
The review presents the concepts of screening and early diagnosis, as two strategies for the early detection of cancer. The need to improve literacy of the population in matters of health, the development of skills that determine the motivation and the ability to use information to strengthen and maintain their health is shown. The review demonstrates the need to overcome stigma in relation to cancer, as a feeling of fatal prediction and loss of self-worth of a person with cancer in society and society. The authors described the obstacles to timely access to medical care (geographical and transport difficulties, financial constraints, inflexible working hours of medical institutions, lack of appropriate services, sociocultural and gender factors). The availability of primary health care may be limited for people with disabilities, people of low socioeconomic status, and various socially excluded groups. In early diagnostics, three stages can be distinguished: raising the awareness of the population about the symptoms of cancer, recommendations for mandatory treatment in identifying certain symptoms, clinical evaluation of these symptoms, diagnosis and stage of tumor development. A characteristic of three-stage early diagnosis of cancer (raising public awareness, conducting a clinical assessment - establishing a diagnosis, providing adequate treatment) is given, which is interpreted as a period of independent patient actions, a diagnostic period and a period of treatment. These three stages are presented in detail with the necessary recommendations on organizational measures for the oncological service.