Over the last fifty years, the number of people in the U.S. and some western countries diagnosed with specific types of stomach and throat cancers has risen significantly.
These cancers are particularly dangerous, often resulting in death.
The Importance of Early Detection
Joel Rubenstein, a doctor and researcher at a well-known research center in Michigan, emphasizes that catching these cancers early can be life-saving.
He points out that people with a long-term condition called GERD are sometimes diagnosed with a pre-cancerous state called Barrett’s esophagus.
If identified early, patients can take measures to avoid the cancer from developing further. Sadly, many medical professionals aren’t aware of the guidelines recommending early screening, so many patients miss out.
However, there’s some good news. A recently introduced automated tool in electronic health records can help identify people at risk of these cancers.
This means that doctors could catch and treat the cancers sooner, increasing the chances of saving lives.
How AI Comes Into Play
Rubenstein and his research team have designed an AI-powered tool called K-ECAN. This tool goes through patients’ health records, looks at their basic details, weight, previous health conditions, and regular test results.
It then calculates their risk of developing these specific types of stomach and throat cancers.
In the past, Rubenstein had developed another tool that required measuring a patient’s body size, which wasn’t convenient.
But this new AI tool uses the vast amount of data already in electronic health records and informs doctors when they should check a patient’s risk.
Interestingly, the tool has proven even more effective than older guidelines. It can predict the onset of cancer three years before it’s diagnosed traditionally.
And even if a patient shows no signs or symptoms of GERD, the tool can still identify if they are at risk.
Another doctor, Akbar Waljee, mentioned that this achievement was the result of collaborative work.
The study, which examined the data of millions of U.S. veterans, was possible because of the combined efforts of many researchers, data experts, and institutions who understood the potential of AI and data in preventing cancer.
Conclusion
This new AI tool, when integrated into electronic health systems, can notify doctors about patients who might be at risk.
The hope is that by using AI to understand patient data better, doctors can prevent more deaths from these cancers in the future.
Rubenstein is optimistic that this tool, if validated further, could be used more broadly and save even more lives.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that artificial sweeteners are linked to higher cancer risk, and how drinking milk affects risks of heart disease and cancer.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects the risks of heart disease and cancer and results showing higher intake of dairy foods linked to higher prostate cancer risk.
The study was published in Gastroenterology.
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