Cancer Screening Basics
More Ways to Avoid Becoming a Cancer Statistic
Getting appropriate cancer screening literally can save lives since early detection is the key to effective cancer treatment.
In the first part of this article, we learned about screening techniques that can catch breast and colon cancers in their early stages, when the outcome is generally quite good. Now we will consider two more cancers—cervical and skin—for which excellent screening techniques are currently available.
Cervical Cancer Screening
Cervical cancer can be considered an STD, as exposure to a sexually transmitted virus is the cause of most cervical cancer cases. Cells of the cervix can become precancerous when exposed to a sexually transmitted infection known as human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is very common (and generally benign) and most infected individuals show no signs of infection. While most women experience no complications from an HPV infection, a small fraction of infected women will go on to develop cervical cancer if the virus damages the cell’s normal genetic information. Because this common infection is generally “silent”, it is important for every sexually active woman to get yearly cervical cancer screenings, called Pap smears. Cancer of the cervix may take several years to develop and generally begins slowly, as normal cells undergo certain precancerous changes. It is these non-cancerous but potentially harmful cells that are detected in a Pap smear, allowing for early detection of the disease. Treatment of these precancerous cells can prevent tumor development and most invasive cervical cancers are diagnosed in women who have not had regular Pap smears.
Skin Cancer Screening
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States today, with more than one million new cases diagnosed each year. Screening for skin cancer is simple and easy, consisting of a visual inspection called a total cutaneous examination (TCE) of the patient's body by a physician. During a TCE, doctors look for moles with the abnormalities such as: large size (more than 6mm in diameter), asymmetry, irregular border, and/or an uneven color patterns. Although early identification of melanoma is the primary goal of a TCE, this exam can also detect non-melanoma skin cancer and precancerous lesions. The American Cancer Society recommends these skin examinations every three years for people aged 20-40 years, and annually for people 40 and over. Adults at higher risk for melanoma should be particularly vigilant about skin cancer screening. This includes those with a family history of melanoma, adults with frequent sun exposure, those with a history of serious or frequent sunburn (especially during childhood), as well as people with more than 50 moles, and/or those with fair skin.
Screening Saves Lives
The American Cancer Society estimates that at least half of all cancer deaths are preventable. Combining regular cancer screenings with exercise, a good diet, and a smoke-free lifestyle can go a long way in preventing individuals from becoming another cancer statistic.
