In the ongoing fight against cancer, early detection and an accurate diagnosis are critical to proper treatment and successful outcomes. Hometown Hospital can help detect and diagnose cancer and provide the information you need to guide and determine the best courses of treatment. This essential knowledge can come from one or more of four key sources.
Source One: An Annual Wellness Exam
Seeing your primary care provider is perhaps the most important step you can take in detecting early signs of possible cancer. An annual wellness exam increases the likelihood of detecting cancer early, when lifesaving treatments are much more successful. Cancer of the skin, breast, thyroid, lymph nodes, testes and ovaries are just some of the cancers that can be detected by your primary care provider, who is also in the best position to recommend additional tests or screenings.
What can I do? Schedule and keep those annual wellness appointments and be sure to talk openly and honestly with your provider. Don’t hold back. Ask questions about your health concerns, no matter how small they may seem.
Source Two: Regular Cancer Screenings
Regular cancer screenings are proven to be the best way to detect cancer early. Here are seven of the most common cancers, and how to screen for them.
For Breast Cancer
Today, there are nearly 4 million breast cancer survivors in the United States! In fact, when breast cancer is diagnosed at an early, localized stage, the 5-year survival rate is 99%! That’s why the American Cancer Society recommends a yearly mammogram for all women starting at age 45, then every two years starting at age 55. For women 40 to 44, a mammogram is optional. Women who have a higher risk for breast cancer should have both an MRI and a mammogram.
For Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is most often diagnosed in women between age 35 and 44. A primary HPV (human papillomavirus) test is recommended every 5 years beginning at age 25 and continuing to age 65. If a primary HPV test is not available, screening may be done with either a co-test that combines an HPV test with a Papanicolaou (Pap) test every 5 years or a Pap test alone every 3 years. For women older than 65, testing should stop if your previous tests have been normal.
For Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer will claim the most lives of people under age 50. Therefore, for every person with average risk, colorectal screening should begin at age 45 and continue every 10 years. For those with above average risk, testing can begin earlier and take place more often. A colonoscopy is the primary screening for colorectal cancer. The entire colon can be closely inspected during the procedure, and polyps can be removed before they become cancerous.
For Lung Cancer
The number of new lung cancer cases and lung cancer deaths has been declining in recent years. Still, 1 in 16 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime. A lung cancer screening called low-dose computerized tomography (CT) is sometimes used to scan the lungs of older adults who are lifetime smokers but may not have any symptoms. Other tests might include an X-ray or a biopsy.
For Prostate Cancer
Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in American men, affecting 1 in 8 men. However, when detected early, the relative 5-year survival rate is nearly 100%! Starting at age 40, talk to your provider about the risks and benefits of screening. Men who decide to get screened should be tested with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, perhaps along with a digital rectal exam (DRE).
For Skin Cancer
Cancer of the skin is by far the most common of all cancers in the U.S. However, the most serious of skin cancers, melanoma, accounts for only 1% of cases. Report any suspicious moles or unusual changes in your skin to your provider. An annual body scan by a dermatologist is recommended.
For Testicular Cancer
Thankfully, only 1 in 250 men will develop testicular cancer in their lifetime, and the risk of death is very low, about 1 in 5,000. However, incidence rates have been increasing, and there is no standard screening test for testicular cancer. Men may discover a lump during a self-exam or during a physical exam with a provider. If a lump is found, an ultrasound test is often performed to check for cancer.
What can I do? Talk to your provider about which cancer screenings you need and how often they need to be performed. Consider self-exams and pay attention to your body. Be on the lookout for changes that might be signs of cancer.
Source Three: Diagnostics and Lab Testing
If signs of possible cancer are discovered during a wellness exam or a screening, your provider will likely recommend additional testing to clarify or confirm whether or not cancer exists. Our hospital has the diagnostic technology to provide that clarity. Ultrasound, MRI and CT Scans are all non-invasive procedures that physicians can utilize to look more closely for cancer, determine how far it has spread, or see if a treatment is working.
As part of an annual wellness exam, samples of blood, urine, tissue and other fluids may be taken and sent to our hospital’s laboratory to determine if there are any signs of cancer.
What can I do? Trust your provider to know what steps should be taken in order to gain a clear and accurate diagnosis. Advocate for yourself. Ask good questions and understand the pros and cons of further testing. The more you know, the more effective a treatment plan will be.
Source Four: Biopsies and Surgery
In certain situations, a biopsy or minor surgical procedure will be recommended when a screening or imaging test does not yield a definitive diagnosis. 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 it is.
What can I do? Remain positive! Studies show that an optimistic outlook reduces stress and may decrease the risk of early death by as much as 50%.
The Ultimate Source: YOU!
You know your body better than anyone else. Trust your instincts. Stay informed and don’t hesitate to contact your primary care provider or our hospital with any health concern you may have.
Sources: American Cancer Society, National Breast Cancer Foundation, fightcolorectalcancer.org, Lung Cancer Foundation, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Mayo Clinic, WebMD.