Don’t skip your diagnostic tests

The security situation in Israel since October 7 has caused most of us to feel afraid and anxious. In the first days of fighting, these feelings were very intense, and we also all felt very confused. With time, we were forced to get back to our normal routines, to the extent possible.

“During the COVID crisis, many people also let periodic tests slide, and as a result, there was an increase in the number of diagnoses of advanced malignant diseases. It’s important to understand that diagnostic tests frequently prevent the development of cancer, for example, during a colonoscopy we can remove a polyp in time. If that same patient would have put off the exam, the polyp could have developed into a cancerous tumor in the intestine and even metastasized throughout the body,” explained Dr. Valeriya Semenisty, Director of the Oncology Institute at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center.

Note that throughout the entire period, the Oncology Institute staff continued to work normally and accept all patients, including displaced persons from the south who came in for treatment. “We contacted their doctors and continued to provide them with their treatment protocol in order to ensure continuity of care. Diseases don’t just disappear because of the war, and they can even get worse. Stress and pressure are known to have a negative effect on our health along with emotional eating and lack of exercise, which are typical when we are under stress, facing uncertainty and are anxious.”

“Everyone needs to take responsibility for their health and make sure to have all the diagnostic tests that are relevant for them, whether this means a fecal occult blood test, periodic blood tests, a gynecological exam, colonoscopy or mammogram. The earlier a finding, if any, is detected, the greater the odds of preventing cancer. Alternatively, if a malignant tumor has already developed, the greater the possibility of removing it,” said Dr. Semenisty.

In short, we cannot know how much longer the war will last and how it will end, so it’s important to make sure to undergo diagnostic tests and if a new symptom is discovered, go for medical investigation as soon as possible and don't say, “Now's not the time.”