Article #5 - Cancer Awareness Update
January is Cervical Cancer Screening Month
Before the 1950s, cervical cancer was the leading cause of cancer death among women. Then doctors developed the Pap Test. This simple test now saves the lives of 70 percent of women who otherwise would have died from the disease.
Still, it is estimated that 10,000 American women will be
diagnosed with cervical cancer this year. That’s the reason every woman who is older than 21 or sexually active should have an annual Pap Test. This very reliable test checks abnormal changes in the cells. If your test results are abnormal, your physician may conduct another Pap Test or check for HPV (Human Papillomavirus), a sexually-transmitted disease and the primary cause of almost all cervical cancer.
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States. If detected early, the disease is highly treatable, but many people never show symptoms. That’s the reason everyone 50 or older should have regular screenings. Unfortunately, 40 percent of Americans who should be screened for colon cancer have not been tested. If you’re over 50, you should talk to your personal physician about having a regular screening test for colon cancer. The most effective screening option for detecting the disease is a colonoscopy, which checks for tumors, polyps and areas of inflammation that can lead to cancer. If you are over 50, you should have a colonoscopy every 10 years and every five years if you are high risk.
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