Almost everyone in America knows a friend or loved one who’s been diagnosed with cancer. And no wonder: 4,830 new cancer cases are diagnosed every day in the United States. That’s the reason Main Street Hospital has made a commitment to provide a comprehensive range of cancer-fighting services. We have the expertise, equipment and medical resources needed to both detect and treat cancer. And because our services are close to home, it’s much easier for friends and family of cancer patients to provide the support and encouragement that’s so important after a diagnosis had been made.
Diagnosing Cancer
Annual Physical: Seeing your personal physician once a year can help find cancer early, when treatments are much more successful. Cancer of the skin, thyroid, oral cavity, lymph nodes, testes and ovaries are just some of the cancers that can be detected by your primary care provider.
Diagnostic Imaging Tests: Ultrasound, MRI and CT Scan are all non-invasive procedures that doctors use to screen for cancer, determine how far it has spread, or see if a treatment is working.
Lab Tests: A hospital laboratory can analyze blood, urine, fluid, tissue or other samples to determine if there are any signs of cancer.
Biopsy: A biopsy is often performed when an imaging test cannot make a definitive diagnosis of cancer. During a biopsy, body tissue or a sample of cells is removed and then analyzed in a lab. In addition to determining if the cells are cancerous, a biopsy can provide valuable information about where the cancer originated and how aggressive the cancer is.
Cancer Screenings: One of the best ways to detect cancer early is to have regular cancer screenings. Talk to your doctor about which checkups you need and how often they need to be performed. Here are four of the most important cancer screenings.
Colonoscopy
This screening exam allows doctors to closely inspect the entire colon for signs of colorectal cancer. A colonoscopy can also prevent cancer from developing by removing polyps that could become cancerous. Despite this fact, one in three adults between the ages of 50 and 75 are not getting tested.
When to schedule: Starting at age 50, every person should have a colonoscopy every 10 years or more often if your personal risk is greater.
Mammogram
Having an annual mammogram is a proven way to detect breast cancer in its early stages, when the survival rate is much higher. Unfortunately, despite ongoing efforts to raise awareness, a high percentage of women are still not up-to-date with this lifesaving breast cancer screening.
When to schedule: The American Cancer Society recently changed its guidelines for breast cancer screenings. It now recommends a yearly mammogram for all women starting at age 45 and then having a mammogram every other year starting at age 55.
Pap Test
This procedure tests for cervical cancer in women. The test can detect changes in the cells of the cervix that may develop into cancer.
When to schedule:
- All women should have a Pap test starting at age 21.
- Ages 21 to 29: Every three years.
- Ages 30 to 65: Pap test combined with HPV testing every five years.
Another option is to have the Pap test alone every three years.
Prostate Cancer
About 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. Other than skin cancer, it’s the most common type of cancer in American men. Screening is important and effective. The 5-year survival rate for prostate cancer is 99 percent!
When to schedule: Each man needs to have a discussion with his personal physician about having a screening for prostate cancer. The discussion should take place at:
- Age 50 for men who at average risk
- Age 45 for men who are at high risk of developing prostate cancer: African Americans and men with a first-degree relative (father, brother, son) diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 65 or younger.
- Age 40 for men with an even higher risk (more than one first-degree relative diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 65 or younger).
Treating Cancer
Main Street Hospital offers three types of cancer treatment, which are often combined as part of an overall treatment plan developed for each patient.
Surgery is one of the most common treatments for cancer. Whether surgery is an option depends on the type of cancer, where the cancer is located in the body, the size of the cancer and whether it has spread, and the patient’s health. Surgery is sometimes used in combination with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.
Mammogram uses drugs to kill the cancer cells. Sometimes called infusion therapy, chemotherapy usually takes place in a comfortable and relaxed setting in the hospital. A specific treatment plan is typically created for each patient depending on the type of cancer, its stage of advancement and the health of the person.
Mammogram, which is customized for each patient, uses intense energy to damage and destroy cancer cells. X-rays are the most common type of radiation therapy. New technologies have made radiation therapy much more precise and accurate in order to avoid damage to nearby healthy cells.
Sources: American Cancer Society, Mayo Clinic, CDC