Evaluation of Annual Examinations in the Detection of Cancer

Results of 33,224 examinations of 9,123 patients were analyzed in a search for factors that might be especially helpful in the early diagnosis of various forms of cancer. A total of 163 cases of cancer of the breast, stomach, large intestine, prostate, ovary, and uterus were thus studied. There was no significant difference in the symptoms, signs, or laboratory findings leading to the identification of malignancies in patients at their first examination as compared with later yearly reexaminations. A marked decrease in the incidence of cancer of the rectum was noted in patients seen at yearly intervals. In 15 of 21 cases of cancer of the breast the tumor nodule had not been noticed by the patient. These facts suggest that yearly examinations can bring about the earlier detection of cancer and lead to the more frequent removal of precancerous lesions.