How can cancer be
detected early?
In many cases, the sooner cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better a person's chance for a full recovery. If you develop cancer, you can improve the chance that it will be detected early if you have regular medical checkups and do certain self-exams. Often a doctor can find early cancer during a physical exam or with routine tests, even if a person has no symptoms. Some important medical exams, tests, and self- exams are discussed on the next pages. The doctor may suggest other exams for people who are at increased risk for cancer.
Ask your doctor about
your cancer risk, problems to watch for, and a schedule of regular checkups.
The doctor's advice will be based on your age, medical history, and other risk
factors. The doctor also can help you learn about self-exams. (More information
and free booklets about self-exams are available from the Cancer Information
Service).
Many local health
departments have information about cancer screening or early detection
programs. The Cancer Information Service also can tell you about such programs.
Exams
For Both Men And Women
Skin - The doctor should examine your skin during regular checkups for signs of skin cancer. You should also check regularly for new growths, sores that do not heal, changes in the size, shape, or color of any moles, or any other changes on the skin. Warning signs like these should be reported to the doctor right away.
Skin - The doctor should examine your skin during regular checkups for signs of skin cancer. You should also check regularly for new growths, sores that do not heal, changes in the size, shape, or color of any moles, or any other changes on the skin. Warning signs like these should be reported to the doctor right away.
Colon and Rectum - Beginning at
age 50, you should have a yearly fecal occult blood test. This test is a check
for hidden (occult) blood in the stool. A small amount of stool is placed on a
plastic slide or on special paper. It may be tested in the doctor's office or
sent to a lab. This test is done because cancer of the colon and rectum can
cause bleeding. However, noncancerous conditions can also cause bleeding, so
having blood in the stool does not necessarily mean a person has cancer. If
blood is found, the doctor orders more tests to help make a diagnosis.
To check for cancer of the
rectum, the doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum and feels for any
bumps or abnormal areas. A digital rectal exam should be done during regular
checkups.
Every 3 to 5 years after age
50, an individual should have sigmoidoscopy. In this exam, the doctor uses a
thin, flexible tube with a light to look inside the rectum and colon for
abnormal areas.
Mouth - Your doctor and dentist
should examine your mouth at regular visits. Also, by looking in a mirror, you
can check inside your mouth for changes in the color of the lips, gums, tongue,
or inner cheeks, and for scabs, cracks, sores, white patches, swelling, or
bleeding. It is often possible to see or feel changes in the mouth that might
be cancer or a condition that might lead to cancer. Any symptoms in your mouth
should be checked by a doctor or dentist. Oral exams are especially important
for people who use alcohol or tobacco products and for anyone over age 50.
BY: OMAR MAZHAR
