One way that
you can help reduce your risk of developing cancer is
to undergo the appropriate screening tests. Certain screening
tests are recommended at baseline ages to prevent cancer
or to detect it in its earliest and most curable stages.
However, it is important
to note that these baseline ages are established primarily
for individuals of average risk, so if you have a family
history of a certain cancer, you should consult with your
doctor to design a personalized screening program. The
following information lists the most common cancer screening
tests, listed by potential body location.
Breast Cancer.
The Standard
imaging test for breast cancer is a mammogram, also known
as a mammography exam, which is a low-dose x¬-ray
of a woman's breast used to detect breast cancer.
Digital mammography is
a technique that enables radiologists to produce an image
of the breast in about five seconds (compared to four
to five minutes with a traditional mammogram) and to refine
the contrast of the image so that lesions can be seen
more clearly. The new technique may be more effective
than standard mammography, especially in women with dense
breasts.
A physical breast examination
is when a doctor or nurse physically examines a patient's
breasts for the following:
changes in the skin such as dimpling, scaling, or puckering;
any discharge from the nipples; and any difference in
appearance between the two breasts, including differences
in size or shape. The next step is palpation, in which
the examiner inspects the entire breast, the underarm,
and the collarbone area.
Please see Our Services
for information about Memorial 810an Kettering's screening
services,
To get started
Check your breasts
3 days after your period ends (or on the first day
of the month, if you no longer have periods). You
may want to do this while you are in the shower.
While your body is wet and soapy, use the pads of
3 fingers (using 3 kinds of pressurelight, medium,
and deep) to check both breasts for lumps. Move
your fingers in one of the patterns pictured - circles
or rows - whichever way feels comfortable to you.
Areas to check
1
Outside
- armpit to collar bone, and below breast
2
Middle - the
breast itself
3
Inside -- the
nipple area.
Things to look for
after you shower
1
Liquid
coming from your nipples
2
Puckering of
the skin
3
Redness or
swelling
4
Change in size
or shape
Breast
self-examination can also be done lying down
in bed. Do the test in whatever place or position
seems most comfortable and effective for you.
If you feel any lumps or see any changes,
call your doctor.
Click
on image for large view
Cervical Cancer
Most cervical
cancers can be prevented through effective screening by
Papanicolaou (Pap) smear and avoidance of known risk factors.
The Pap smear is a safe, non-invasive medical procedure
in which cellular material is obtained from the uterine
cervix for evaluation. Pap smears can detect cervical
cancer, precancerous lesions, and a variety of infectious
conditions.
A pelvic exam involves
a doctor or other healthcare professional examining a
patient's external genitals, or vulva, then cervix, In
the external examination, he or she will look for signs
of redness, irritation, discharge, cysts, genital warts,
or other conditions, as well as feeling for cysts. In
the internal examination of the cervix, which is the opening
to the uterus, the doctor or other healthcare professional
will examine the patient's vaginal walls for lesions,
inflammation or unusual discharge, then he or she will
check the cervix for unusual discharge, signs of infection,
lesions, discoloration, damage or growths.
Cervical cancer screening
should begin approximately three years after a woman begins
having sexual intercourse, but no later than at 21 years
old. (Experts recommend waiting approximately three years
following the initiation of sexual activity because transient
HPV infections and cervical cell caused by other conditions.
Receiving a high PSA level on the test will necessitate
further tests to find out if a man actually has cancer.
Colorectal /Colon Cancer
Prevention and early detection are key factors
in controlling and curing colorectal cancer. Indeed, colorectal
cancer is the second most preventable cancer, after lung
cancer. If you are of regular risk, you should see your
doctor beginning at age 50 for screening tests for colorectal
cancer, which include flexible sigmoidoscopy, a yearly
test for blood in the stool, and a colonoscopy.
A sigmoidoscopy is an examination of the lower part
of the colon with a flexible, lighted tool. If anything
suspicious is found during the test;(5fl1er tests, such
as a colonoscopy, may be required.
A fecal occult blood test
(FOST) is used to detect invisible amounts of blood in
the feces, which can be a sign of several disorders, including
colon cancer. This painless test involves a dab of a stool
specimen on a chemically treated card, which is tested
in a laboratory for evidence of blood. If blood is discovered
in the stool, more elaborate tests may be performed.
A colonoscopy uses a long,
thin, flexible tube with a tiny video camera and a light
on the end to view the entire colon. During the procedure,
a gastroenterologist can carefully guide the
instrument in any direction to look at the inside of the
colon. This procedure also allows other instruments to
be passed through the colonoscopy. These may be used,
for example, to painlessly remove a suspicious-looking
growth or to take a biopsy for further analysis. In this
way, colonoscopy may help to avoid surgery or to better
define what type of surgery may need to be done.
If you have
an increased risk for colorectal cancer because of your
family or personal medical history, you may need to begin
these tests earlier. See your doctor for details.
Prostate Cancer
Initial screening
tests for prostate cancer include a digital rectal examination
(ORE), in which a doctor feels the prostate to check for
abnormalities, and a blood test to detect the amount of
prostate specific antigen (PSA) circulating in the blood.
Located just in front of
the rectum, the prostate gland cannot be felt from the
outside of the body, requiring a digital rectal exam.
During the DRE, a doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved
finger into the patient's rectum to feel for lumps, enlargements,
or areas of hardness that might indicate prostate cancer.
The procedure lasts for less than minute and, while uncomfortable,
should cause no pain.
The PSA test is a simple
blood test to measure how much of a protein known as prostate
specific antigen a man has in his bloodstream at a given
time. PSA results are listed by ng /ml, which is an abbreviation
for nanograms per milliliter. The higher the PSA level,
the more likely the chance of prostate cancer ¬but
it is important to note that PSA alone doesn't tell whether
a man has prostate cancer because high PSA levels can
also be
