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