Many times, the earlier cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better a person’s chances are for full recovery. Cancer in its earliest stages rarely has warning signs, so take the steps that will give you an added edge for early detection.
By recognizing the warning signs and undergoing regular screenings, individuals can identify cancer in its initial stages when it is most treatable.
Get regular checkups by your doctor – Often your doctor can find early cancer during a physical exam or with routine tests, even if you have no symptoms. Ask your doctor about your cancer risk, problems to watch for and a schedule of regular checkups.
By discussing your cancer risk factors and any concerns with your doctor, you can work together to develop a personalized plan for monitoring your health and detecting cancer early.
Pap tests
(for cervix cancer),
mammograms
(for breast cancer) and colon cancer tests save lives.
Do regular self-exams
– Examining yourself on a regular basis can help you – Check your skin regularly for new growths, sores that don’t heal, changes in the size, shape or color of moles, or any other changes on your skin. Report these warning signs to your doctor at once.
inside of your mouth for changes
in the color of your lips, gums, and tongue or inner cheeks. Also look for scabs, cracks, sores, white patches, swelling or bleeding. Have these symptoms checked by a doctor or dentist.
testicular self-exam
. Report a lump or other changes, such as heaviness, swelling, and unusual tenderness or pain to your doctor.
breast self-examination every month
. This will help you learn what looks and feels normal for your breasts and will help you notice any changes. Report anything you feel is not normal to your doctor.
Breast Cancer In today's Indian women, breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer. Every year, more than 100,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and most people are aware of at least one person who has undergone treatment for the disease.
As of current statistics in India, 1 in every 22 women is at a life time risk of developing a breast cancer. When breast cancer is detected early, women have a much greater chance of being treated successfully and for most women the cancer will not come back after treatment. Screening mammograms are currently the best method available for detecting breast cancer early. Mammograms may find a breast cancer which is too small to feel.
Mammograms are low dose x-rays of a woman’s breasts. Screening mammograms are performed on women without any symptoms of breast cancer. Women over 50 years of age are advised to have a mammogram every year.
The biggest risk factors for developing breast cancer are being a woman and getting older. Screening mammograms are often less reliable for younger women. The density of breast tissue in younger women often makes it difficult to detect cancers on mammograms. All women aged 50 and above should have a screening mammogram every year.
From age 20 on, monthly Breast Self-Examination (BSE) is recommended seven to 10 days after a woman’s period begins. After menopause, BSE should be performed on the first day of the month. BSE only takes a few minutes, costs nothing, and helps find tumors at a smaller size.
Women of all ages should be familiar with the normal look and feel of their breasts. If you notice any of the following changes please see your doctor immediately:
A woman’s risk for developing breast cancer increases if her mother, sister, or daughter has breast cancer, especially at a young age. Screening should begin early in these cases. Breast self-examination should be performed regularly and screening mammography should begin at as early as 35 years of age.
Intestinal cancer refers to malignancies that develop in the tissues of the intestines, including the small intestine and the large intestine (colon and rectum). Here are some key points about intestinal cancer:
Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, occurs in the colon or rectum. Bowel cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer. If bowel cancer is detected early, the chance of successful treatment and long-term survival improves significantly.
Not all bowel cancers show symptoms, however you should see your doctor if you notice:
Everyone is at risk of developing bowel cancer; however the risk greatly increases with age. Some people may be at a greater risk of developing bowel cancer, including those with:
People who are at an increased risk of developing bowel cancer should discuss possible surveillance options with their doctor.
Bowel cancer can be detected using a variety of methods:
Bowel cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Many lifestyle risk factors may contribute to bowel cancer. Your most effective protection against bowel cancer is to:
Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that originates in the ovaries, the female reproductive organs responsible for producing eggs and hormones. Ovarian cancer often goes undetected in its early stages, leading to a higher mortality rate.
Each year many women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The main risk factor for ovarian cancer is getting older, with over 80 per cent of women diagnosed when they are over 50 years of age, and the average age at diagnosis 64 years of age. Ovarian cancer can be difficult to diagnose at an early stage, largely because symptoms can be vague and similar to those of other common illnesses.
Currently there are no tests effective enough for a population based screening program for ovarian cancer. In addition, there is no evidence to suggest that screening will reduce the number of deaths from ovarian cancer.
The blood test CA125 can be used to help diagnose or exclude ovarian cancer. CA125 is a protein found in the blood and can be produced by ovarian cancer cells. However, there are other causes for raised CA125 levels such as menstruation, endometriosis or ovarian cysts.
Having a genetic family history of ovarian cancer is an important risk factor in developing the disease. A family history of breast cancer and/or bowel cancer is also a risk factor. However, only 5 to 10 per cent of all ovarian cancers are associated with a family history. The risk of developing ovarian cancer increases with the number of affected first degree relatives (parents, siblings, children).
Symptoms that may indicate ovarian cancer are vague and may include one or more of the following:
Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the cells of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus. It is typically caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and can often be detected early through regular screening tests.
The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb). It is sometimes called the uterine cervix. The body of the uterus (the upper part) is where a foetus grows. The cervix connects the body of the uterus to the vagina (birth canal). Most cervical cancers begin in the cells lining the cervix. These cells do not suddenly change into cancer. Instead, the normal cells of the cervix gradually develop pre-cancerous changes that turn into cancer. The change from pre-cancer to cancer usually takes several years
Depending on the stage, cancer may be localized or advanced. Localized cancer is confined to one area and may be treated with local therapies like surgery. Advanced cancer has spread beyond its original site, requiring systemic treatments such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy.
The most important risk factor for cervical cancer is infection by the human papilloma virus (HPV). The Pap test looks for changes in cervical cells caused by HPV infection.
You can prevent most pre-cancers of the cervix by avoiding exposure to HPV. In women, HPV infections occur mainly at younger ages and are less common in women older than 30. The reason for this is not clear. Certain types of sexual behaviour increase a woman’s risk of getting HPV infection, such as:
HPV vaccines (Gardasil® and Cervarix®) protect against certain types of HPV and require 3 injections over 6 months, with mild side effects such as redness, swelling, and soreness at the injection site.
All women should begin cervical cancer screening about 3 years after starting sexual activity or by age 21, with annual Pap tests or every 2 years if using a liquid-based Pap test.
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