October 2013, Amy Robach was one of the faces of Good Morning America—the U.S.’s version of Magandang Umaga Pilipinas.
She was this pretty and bubbly morning show host, with a lovely family, and a career trajectory envied by many.
She was assigned a segment on breast cancer and was asked if she would take a mammogram…on live television—to demystify the whole process for women.
At 40, it was going to be Amy’s first mammogram.
Like any private individual, she hesitated at first. But ever the team player, she took one for the team and went for it.
(Her friend, colleague, and breast cancer survivor, Robin Roberts, also encouraged her to do it.)
So the live TV segment came and went and she was relieved that the whole ordeal was over…or so she thought.
She was asked to return for some additional tests. The mammogram, which was supposed to be just part of a morning show, revealed something. And doctors were concerned.
Amy had breast cancer.
Slowly at first…then all at once
Amy Robach is now a cancer survivor.
The mammogram that was supposed to be for a morning show actually saved her life.
But many others are not as lucky.
How many times have you heard this said, “She looked so healthy. Kausap ko lang sya last week!”
The mentioned person has probably passed away—from a disease nobody saw coming.
It hits people from all walks of life. This kind of tragedy does not discriminate.
We call them “silent killers.”
They are diseases that are slowly but surely working behind the scenes, causing damage to our bodies. Often, especially in the early stages, these diseases can easily be cured. But we’re not able to act on them because we do not feel sick. We feel perfectly fine.
They are asymptomatic.
Generally, symptoms are good in the sense that they alert us that something is wrong. If we feel that something’s wrong, then perhaps we’ll be compelled to visit the doctor. We can then take action and rectify the situation.
But “silent killers” are just that. They operate unannounced.
“Silent killers” can be asymptomatic for years and only get detected when it’s already too late—when not much can be done about it.
Unlike surface wounds that we can see, these conditions are often internal in nature. They elude direct visual check, and so can fester unimpeded. That’s why they’re doubly dangerous.
Diseases That Have No Symptoms Early On
1) Cancer
Cancers can go undetected and undiagnosed for years. For example, a study has found that a tumor could grow for 10 years, to a size of an olive, before it really shows up and begins to cause trouble.
A lot of cancers begin with no signs or symptoms, and rear their ugly head only when they’ve progressed significantly and aggressive treatment is required.
Early asymptomatic cancers include:
Breast Cancer
Cervical Cancer
Colon Cancer
Kidney cancer
Lung Cancer
Ovarian Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Skin Cancer
Testicular Cancer
2) Heart Disease
Heart disease can be hereditary. But it could also develop slowly over time and go unnoticed. A lifetime of unhealthy habits (eg. smoking, alcohol, stress, poor diet, no exercise) can cause heart disease.
Unfortunately, one’s heart condition can only be ascertained when one comes in for a test—which many people put off. Not until serious symptoms come in, and by that time, severe or irreversible heart damage has taken place.
3) High Blood Pressure
This condition also develops over time. It’s another of those “silent killers” that can inflict harm without being noticed.
Because of its gradual nature, the body can adapt to high blood pressure, and individuals won’t even notice elevated blood pressure levels because they feel “normal.” But then high blood pressure can damage different organ systems like the heart, blood vessels, kidney, and brain.
It only really becomes a “problem” when complications set in.
4) Deep Vein Thrombosis/Pulmonary Embolism
DVT often starts as a clot in the lower veins of the legs. Blood pools in the legs and forms a blood clot, which could result in pain, soreness, and cramping. The area often swells and is red and tender.
But this is not the real danger posed by DVT. At any time, unknown to the individual, the clot can break off and travel to a different part of the body. Sometimes, the clot travels to the lungs. It can get lodged in one of the arteries of the lungs and become fatal (pulmonary embolism).
According to one report, one person dies from DVT every 5 minutes.
A sedentary lifestyle often adds to the risk of developing DVT, because of the prolonged periods of immobility. Sitting for long stretches can cause blood to pool in the legs.
(Pregnancy and certain medications can also increase the risk of developing blood clots.)
5) Glaucoma
Rather than being a “silent killer,” it’s referred to as a “silent thief of sight.” While it doesn’t cause direct death, it can lead to irreversible vision loss and blindness.
Again, its modus operandi is “slow.” One can’t really feel the gradual build-up of pressure in the eye…until it’s too late. It starts at the peripheral field of vision (barely noticeable) and only affects the central late in the game.
6) Sexually-transmitted Diseases
Painful urination, sores, redness, itching sensation, and abnormal discharge are some symptoms of common sexually transmitted infections.
But folks can’t count on symptoms to alert them of STDs because many cases present no symptoms at all. The individual may not even know they’ve been infected. It’s one reason why these infections are easily transmitted between individuals.
Chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, trichomoniasis, hepatitis B, HPV, and even HIV can be asymptomatic.
No pain, no sores, no itching. Nothing.
But that doesn’t mean that they don’t cause trouble down the road. For example, hepatitis B, left untreated can lead to liver cancer. Chlamydia can result in the scarring of the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and endometrial lining, leading to pregnancy complications. Gonorrhea can be transmitted by mothers to their babies during delivery.
Obviously, this is far from an exhaustive list of silent killers. There are so many more. But suffice it to say, that individuals can be battling a disease they don’t even know they have.
And so we come to the issue of regular medical tests. More importantly, on the significance of early detection.
The Blessings of Early Detection
If you come for regular checkups and tests, you have a higher chance of catching the disease before it takes hold. Here are the benefits of early detection, and they should encourage you not to put off getting these medical tests:
#1 Improved Treatment Outcomes
Early detection provides ample opportunities for intervention. This significantly raises the chance of successful treatment. You not only have a better chance of stopping a disease’s progress, you might even be in the position to completely cure it.
#2 Increased Treatment Options
With early detection, the condition might still be local and hasn’t spread throughout the body. Patients can opt for less invasive and local regimens. When the disease had a head start, patients are left with fewer treatment options.
#3 Cost-effectiveness
Treating a disease that has yet to fully develop, will ultimately be cheaper than treating a serious condition that has already caused systemic damage. Even if you factor in the cost of regular tests, it will still be more cost-effective and practical than simply crossing one’s fingers and crossing the bridge when you get there.
#4 Empowerment
Knowing about one’s condition can give an individual a sense of responsibility and control. Early detection can provide opportunities to make informed decisions and lifestyle changes. This beats the anxiety of not knowing what might be wrong.
Don’t play Russian Roulette with your health. Go take the test!
Regular check-ups are indispensable in monitoring your family’s health.
BloodWorks Lab is your partner in well-being. We offer check-up packages tailored to specific needs and a wide array of medical screenings and blood tests.
We’re also proud to be the first in the country to introduce the Anti Acetylcholine Receptor (lgG) Antibody Test and the Anti N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor (Anti NMDA Receptor) Antibody Test.
Book your appointment today.
Our branches are in Alabang, Katipunan, and Cebu.