One major challenge with cancer is that it's often detected too late: by the time symptoms appear, it has frequently metastasized (spread) to stage 4, making treatment much harder and reducing survival chances. Early detection dramatically improves outcomes: studies show that survival rates can be 3–4 times higher when cancer is caught at an early stage, before it spreads. For example, many common cancers have 5-year survival rates over 90% at stage 1, but drop sharply (sometimes to 30%) at stage 4. My advice: Prioritize regular check-ups and screenings based on your age, family history, and risk factors. Don't wait for symptoms: early testing can catch issues before they become life-threatening, and for some cancers (like cervical, colorectal, or breast), screening can even prevent cancer by finding precancerous changes. $GERONCOLOGY