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.
Yearly Check-Up
For early detection, most of the tests & procedures should be performed on a yearly basis. 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 blood panel is performed. Lab work to analyze the samples usually takes a few days to a week. Among others, the results are used to evaluate blood composition, liver and kidney health, iron and protein metabolism. All the risk factors mentioned in Functional Testing are assessed as well and help us to detect developing or ongoing significant malfunctions.
Once a year we additionally take the "Essential Fatty Acid" and the "Micro-nutrients" blood test.
Tumor Markers
As of today, there is no 100% reliable blood marker for the early detection of cancer. 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, medullary thyroid carcinoma, in conditions like ulcerative colitis, pancreatitis, cirrhosis, COPD, Crohn's disease, 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 size and form of all major internal organs, including our major blood vessels, helps us with early detection of any unfortunate development.
Doppler Ultrasonic
Is used to check all essential blood vessels and shows the blow flow, its speed and any turbulence in them in real time. This helps us to detect cardiovascular problems as early as possible.
Doppler Ultrasonography (wikipedia.org)
Lung Function Test
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 a possible.
Conventional Urine Test
By analyzing a sample of our urine, we can check for major malfunctions of our body, indicated by the levels of metabolic end-products and other substances present 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.
Urine Metal Profiles (microtraceminerals.com)
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 going on inside ourselves using a radiation-free procedure. Best done with the latest, highest-resolution equipment and a radiologist that loves his profession and takes his time to analyze the output and walk us through the results.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (medicinenet.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 send 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, there are some tests that we perform on a long-term, five-year schedule.
Colonoscopy
To catch any developing colon cancer as early as possible, this procedure allows a visual examination of the larger intestine.
Colonoscopy (medicinenet.com)
Gastroscopy
Allows a visual examination of the inside of the gullet, stomach, and duodenum. Can be combined with a colonoscopy to check the upper part of our GI tract.
Gastroscopy (medicinenet.com)
Capsule Colonoscopy
Conventional endoscopic colonoscopy starting at the rectum can only go as far into the body to check the larger intestine. To examine the small intestine, which links the stomach and the large intestine, we use video colonoscopy. A little pill that contains a video camera, a flashlight, and a radio transmitter is swallowed. As it travels through the GI tract throughout 24-48 hours, it takes a picture every second that is wirelessly transmitted to a small wearable receiver.
Capsule Colonoscopy (wikipedia.org)
Using the combination of colonoscopy, gastroscopy, and capsule colonoscopy allows us to visually check our whole GI tract.
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.
Cardiac CT for Calcium Scoring (radiologyinfo.org)
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.
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