How are Signs and Symptoms Helpful?
Treatment is most successful when the cancer is found as early as possible. Finding cancer early usually means it can be treated while it is still small and is less likely to have spread to other parts of the body. Usually, this means a better chance for a cure, especially if initial treatment is to be surgery.

A good example of the importance of detecting cancer early is melanoma skin cancer. It is easily removed if has not yet grown deeply into the skin, and the 5-year survival rate (percentage of people living at least 5 years after diagnosis) at this stage is nearly 100%. But once melanoma has spread to other parts of the body, the survival rate drops dramatically.