Cancer is the second leading killer of women, making appropriate screening not only essential for early detection, but truly a matter of life and death.
For many cancers, diagnostic tests that can catch disease in its early stages have yet to be developed. However, for those cancers which often can be caught early—breast, colon, cervical, and skin—taking advantage of effective screening techniques literally can save lives. The first part of this article will focus on breast and colorectal screening techniques. By learning a bit about early screening and its effectiveness, women can ensure that they are getting the most out of their regular checkups.
Breast Cancer Screening
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. The good news is that when caught early, breast cancer is both highly treatable and survivable, making early detection essential. In fact, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation estimates that more than 85% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in the early stages will survive. The first line of defense against breast cancer is the Breast Self Exam (BSE). All women over the age of 20 should perform a monthly BSE, checking for any lumps or unusual changes in the breast, in addition to receiving a yearly clinical breast exam from a medical provider. By becoming well-attuned to what is “normal” for her, a woman can become her own best ally in the fight against breast cancer.
While those with family history of breast cancer may want to start screening earlier, all women over 40 should have a mammogram every year. Mammography uses x-rays to provide a picture of the internal structure of the breast. Abnormal growths and changes in breast tissue often can be found by mammography before they are detectable by any other method, including breast self-examination. Thus even women vigilant about monthly BSEs should not forgo this important screening technique.
Colon Cancer Screening
Colon cancer is the third most common cause of cancer deaths in American women (after lung and breast cancer). This statistic is even more unfortunate considering that proper screening can detect colon cancer in the very early stages when it is relatively easy to combat. A number of options exist for colon cancer screening. The least invasive procedure is an occult blood test, which is performed on a stool sample. It is inexpensive and easy, though not always accurate—it can fail to detect some cancers and many positive tests are not caused by cancer. Another option is flexible sigmoidoscopy, a relatively quick and easy office procedure that allows for direct visualization of any possible abnormalities in the colon. Suspicious lesions can be easily spotted and biopsied during the procedure.
While a colonoscopy provides the most complete picture of the colon, it generally requires sedation and is more expensive than the other screening methods. Current recommendations from the American Cancer Society are that all healthy individuals should have stool occult blood tests and flexible sigmoidoscopy at age 50, followed by annual occult blood tests and a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years. Alternatively, instead of flexible sigmoidoscopy, healthy persons can undergo a colonoscopy at age 50. The advantage of this option is that, if results are normal, the patient only needs to have additional colonoscopies once every ten years. Again, those at higher risk (like those with family history of colon polyps and/or colorectal cancer, ulcerative colitis, or prior personal history of colon polyps) should receive a colonoscopy earlier than age 50 and at shorter intervals.
For more information on how to perform a monthly breast exam visit:
http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/self_exam/index.jsp
