ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. –
Cancer is one of the words patients fear most, and for good reason. Nearly half of men, and one third of women, will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. But despite advances in cancer treatment, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in the Unites States.
Cancer screening remains one of the most important factors in fighting the disease. If cancer is found early, before it has an opportunity to spread throughout the body, it is much more likely to be successfully treated.
Certain cancer screening procedures can be performed to detect cancer early, giving patients a better chance of being cured. But it is not possible, nor is it necessary, to screen for every type of cancer. There are cancer screening tools for common cancers though, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer and cervical cancer.
The American Cancer Society provides cancer screening recommendations and Airmen should consider talking to their doctor regarding their risk of cancer and the appropriate screening tests.
Breast cancer screening is recommended for all women, beginning at age 40. Women should undergo a yearly breast exam by a clinician, in addition to a yearly mammogram. Women are also encouraged to do monthly self-breast exams at home and to consult with their doctor should they find anything abnormal.
There are many different procedures that may be used to screen for colorectal cancer. These include fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Colorectal cancer screening should begin at age 50. The frequency of the testing will depend on which screening procedures are used and the results.
Additionally, all adult women should undergo cervical cancer screening with the Pap test. The frequency of testing will depend on prior test results.
Prostate cancer screening is generally recommended starting at age 50. African-American men should begin screening at age 45. Screening is performed yearly with digital rectal examination and prostate specific antigen testing.
Keep in mind that if you have a strong family history of cancer, particularly in young family members (less than 50-years-old at diagnosis,) you may be at higher risk than the general population. This means you may need to start cancer screening earlier than the recommendations provided above.
The best way to make sure that your cancer screening is current is to take charge of it yourself. Keep the dates of your screening examinations written down on your calendar and keep track of when the next recommended examination is due. Make sure that once a year you talk to your primary physician about cancer screening and ensure you are up to date. You and your family will be glad you did.