Early Cancer Detection

Early Cancer Detection  In 2009, an estimated 1,479,350 people in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer, and 562,340 will die of cancer. Beyond the potential for avoiding death, screening may reduce cancer morbidity since treatment for earlier-stage cancers is often less aggressive than that for more advanced-stage cancers.

            Cancer is an abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, in some cases, to metastasize (spread). It is a very serious disease which affects many people. When Cancer causes certain symptoms in a person, it is usually already at a late stage and usually very difficult to treat. Hence, when cancer is detected late in its course, the prognosis for that person is usually bad. Treating an advanced Cancer can also be a very costly affair. The best and also the most cost effective way to treat cancer is to treat it early. The only way to detect cancer at its earliest is by performing cancer screening test
            Screening is a means of detecting disease early in people without any medical complains. A positive screening test indicates that the person is at increased risk for the presence of cancer and he/she requires further evaluation. A confirmatory test for the particular cancer is then done to confirm whether he/she has cancer.
        Regular screening and self-examination for certain cancers may not prevent cancer, but it can increase your chances of discovering cancer early — when treatment is more likely to be successful. Screening should include your skin, mouth, colon and rectum. If you're a man, it should also include your prostate and testes. If you're a woman, add cervix and breast cancer screening to your list. Be aware of changes in your body — this may help you detect cancer early, increasing your chances of successful treatment. If you notice any changes, see your doctor immediately.

Breast Cancer Screening

Breast screening is a method of detecting breast cancer at a very early stage. The first step involves an x-ray of each breast - a mammogram - which is taken while carefully compressing the breast.

· Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health.

· Clinical breast exam (CBE) should be part of a periodic health exam, about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over.

· Women should know how their breasts normally feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care providers. Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s.

Women under 50 are not offered routine screening. This is because mammograms are not as effective in pre-menopausal women as the density of the breast tissue makes it more difficult to detect problems, and also because the incidence of breast cancer is lower in this age group.

Cervical Cancer Screening

Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. It is a method of preventing cancer by detecting and treating early abnormalities which, if left untreated, could lead to cancer in a woman's cervix (the neck of the womb).
Early detection and treatment can prevent 75 per cent of cancers developing but like other screening tests, it is not perfect. It may not always detect early cell changes that could lead to cancer.

Who is eligible for cervical screening?

• All women should begin cervical cancer screening about 3 years after they begin having vaginal intercourse, but no later than when they are 21 years old. Screening should be done every year with the regular Pap test
• Beginning at age 30, women who have had 3 normal Pap test results in a row may get screened every 3 years (but not more frequently) with either the conventional or liquid-based Pap test, plus the HPV DNA test.
• If a woman has never been sexually active with a man, then the research evidence shows that her chance of developing cervical cancer is very low indeed. We do not say no risk, only very low risk.

Bowel Cancer Screening

About one in 20 people in the UK will develop bowel cancer during their lifetime. It is the third most common cancer in the UK, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths, with over 16,000 people dying from it each year.
Regular bowel cancer screening has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from bowel cancer by 16 per cent.

What is the purpose of bowel cancer screening?

Bowel cancer screening aims to detect bowel cancer at an early stage (in people with no symptoms), when treatment is more likely to be effective. Bowel cancer screening can also detect polyps. These are not cancers, but may develop into cancers over time. They can easily be removed, reducing the risk of developing bowel cancer. Polyps and bowel cancers sometimes bleed, and the Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test works by detecting tiny amounts of blood which cannot normally be seen in bowel motions. 'Occult' means hidden. The FOB test does not diagnose bowel cancer, but the results will indicate whether further investigation (usually a colonoscopy) is needed.
People should talk to their doctor about starting colorectal cancer screening earlier and/or being screened more often if they have any of the following colorectal cancer risk factors:

• a personal history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps
• a personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis)
• a strong family history of colorectal cancer or polyps (cancer or polyps in a first-degree relative [parent, sibling, or child] younger than 60 or in 2 or more first-degree relatives of any age)
• a known family history of hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC)

Prostate cancer Screening
Prostate cancer screening involves testing for prostate cancer in men who have no symptoms of the disease. This testing can find cancer at an early stage.
Who should be screened For Prostate Cancer?
Age:All Men above the age of 50 should be screened for Prostate Cancer
Family medical history: Men who have a first-degree relative (a father or brother) with prostate cancer are more likely to develop the disease.
Prostate Cancer Screening Test — Prostate cancer screening involves blood test that measures prostate specific antigen (PSA) which is a protein produced by the prostate. The PSA test measures the amount of PSA in a sample of blood. Although many men with prostate cancer have an elevated PSA concentration, a high level does not necessarily mean there is a cancer. The most common cause for an elevated PSA is benign prostatic hyperplasia. Other causes include prostate infection (prostatitis) and trauma (bicycle riding), and sexual activity. You should avoid ejaculating or riding a bike for at least 48 hours before having a PSA test.
For further information on Cancer screening please speak to one of our doctors at Centrepoint Healthcare