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Feb. 7–Feb. 14, 2005 Listen to the message
Early Detection of Cancer
Many people don’t like to think about the possibility that they may have cancer, but detecting cancer early can help to save your life. Many common cancers such as breast, colon, prostate, cervix, and skin have a very high rate of cure or long life if found early. Screening tests are designed to detect cancers in people who do not yet show signs of cancer and who feel healthy, but who may already have a cancer present. By finding the cancer before it has grown enough to spread or cause poor health the chances of cure or long life increases dramatically. The American Cancer Society estimates that if all Americans followed the current recommendations for getting these screening tests, the survival rate for the cancers that are screened would be around 95%.
Screening Tests
Some common general recommendations for screening tests include:
- Starting no later than at age 21, a woman should have a yearly Pap smear to detect cervical cancer.
- At age 40, a woman should begin having a yearly mammogram to aid in the detection of breast cancer.
- At age 50, a man should begin having yearly blood test and exam for prostate cancer.
- At age 50, both men and women should begin having a screening test done for colon cancer. There are several choices, including a yearly exam for blood in the stool, or a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years.
Depending on your family history, your lifestyle, and other health problems you may have, there may be more or different screening tests that your healthcare provider would recommend.
Recognize and Report Changes in Your Body
Another important way that you can detect cancer early is to pay attention to your body and contact your doctor if notice any of the following:
- A change in shape, size or color of a mole or freckle on your skin, or unexplained bleeding from a mole or freckle.
- Blood in your bowel movements or stool. Although frequently hemorrhoids or a small tear in the rectal tissues are the cause of the blood, check with your doctor.
- A cough or hoarseness that does not improve over time.
- A new lump in the breast, or discharge or bleeding from the nipple.
- A new lump or swelling in the testicle.
For a much more detailed list of the American Cancer Society screening recommendations, go to www.cancer.org; under the heading “Health Information Seekers” click on ‘Prevention and Early Detection’, then select ‘Early Detection’. In this section you will find not only the screening recommendations but also descriptions of each of the tests.
For a review of each type of cancer and what screening tests are available check out the web site of the National Cancer Institute at www.cancer.gov. Under the heading “Cancer Topics” select ‘Screening and Testing’.
Also talk with your healthcare provider about what cancer screening tests may be the most appropriate for you.
