Wellness
Why it’s important to discuss
cancer screenings with your doctor
Cancer affects people from all
walks of life. The American Cancer
Society says that, in 2019,
there will be approximately 141,000
cancer cases diagnosed and about
103,000 cancer deaths in the United
States. Breast cancer, lung cancer and
prostate cancer are some of the most
common cancers, although just about
any area of the body can be affected by
the cell mutations that lead to cancer.
There is no cure for cancer, although
billions of dollars are spent
each year researching the disease
and potential cures. Until a cure has
been found, individuals must rely on
screenings and prevention methods.
Cancer screening tests are designed
to fi nd cancers in their earliest
stages, when the disease is most
treatable. Many cancer screening
tests have been found to lower the
death rate from particular cancers,
according to the health and wellness
resource site MedicineNet.
The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention supports various cancer
screening tests as recommended
by the U.S. Preventative Services Task
Force. The average person should discuss
with their physicians their risk
COURIER L 36 IFE, MARCH 6-12, 2020
for certain cancers. By considering
individual medical history, family
health history and/or prior screening
results, doctors can develop a screening
plan to reduce patients’ risk of
cancer.
• Breast cancer: Mammograms can
help fi nd breast abnormalities early
on when they are easier to treat and
can produce a very good success rate.
• Colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy:
These tests help detect colorectal cancer
early on and also may help prevent
the disease. These tests can fi nd abnormal
colon growths that can be removed
before they become cancer.
• Cervical cancer: A Pap test can
fi nd abnormal cells in the cervix that
may turn into cancer. Early detection
of cervical cancer increases survival
rates.
• Lung cancer: Yearly lung cancer
screening with low-dose computed tomography
for those with a history of
smoking, particularly heavy smoking,
is often recommended.
Prostate cancer testing, including
blood tests and a digital rectal exam,
used to be the norm. However, Cancer.
org says expert groups no longer
recommend routine prostate cancer
screenings because many of these
cancers are not deadly and early detection
has not been shown to reduce
the chances of dying from prostate
cancer. Some people may still ask to be
screened for prostate cancer as well as
cancers of the ovaries, pancreas, testicles,
and thyroid even though screenings
have not been shown to reduce
deaths from those cancers.
Some cancer screenings are recommended
to help catch cancer early and
prevent the disease from progressing.
People are urged to speak with their
doctors about which tests are best for
them.
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