The information provided below has been
modified from
that furnished by the National Institutes of Health and the
National
Cancer Institute of the United States of America.
In many cases, the sooner cancer is diagnosed and treated, the
better a
person's chance for a full recovery. If you develop cancer, you
can
improve the chance that it will be detected early if you have
regular
medical checkups and do certain self-exams. Often a doctor can
find early
cancer during a physical exam or with routine tests, even if a
person has
no symptoms. Some important medical exams, tests, and self-
exams are
discussed on the next pages. The doctor may suggest other exams
for people
who are at increased risk for cancer.
Ask your doctor about your cancer risk, problems to watch for,
and a
schedule of regular checkups. The doctor's advice will be based
on your
age, medical history, and other risk factors. The doctor also
can help you
learn about self-exams. (More information and free booklets
about
self-exams are available from the Cancer Information
Service).
Many local health departments have information about cancer
screening or
early detection programs. The Cancer Information Service also
can tell you
about such programs.
Exams For Both Men And Women
Skin - The doctor should examine your skin during regular
checkups for
signs of skin cancer. You should also check regularly for new
growths,
sores that do not heal, changes in the size, shape, or color of
any moles,
or any other changes on the skin. Warning signs like these
should be
reported to the doctor right away.
Colon and Rectum - Beginning at age 50, you should have a
yearly fecal
occult blood test. This test is a check for hidden (occult)
blood in the
stool. A small amount of stool is placed on a plastic slide or
on special
paper. It may be tested in the doctor's office or sent to a
lab. This test
is done because cancer of the colon and rectum can cause
bleeding.
However, noncancerous conditions can also cause bleeding, so
having blood
in the stool does not necessarily mean a person has cancer. If
blood is
found, the doctor orders more tests to help make a diagnosis.
To check for cancer of the rectum, the doctor inserts a gloved
finger
into the rectum and feels for any bumps or abnormal areas. A
digital
rectal exam should be done during regular checkups.
Every 3 to 5 years after age 50, an individual should have
sigmoidoscopy. In this exam, the doctor uses a thin, flexible
tube with a
light to look inside the rectum and colon for abnormal
areas.
Mouth - Your doctor and dentist should examine your mouth at
regular
visits. Also, by looking in a mirror, you can check inside your
mouth for
changes in the color of the lips, gums, tongue, or inner
cheeks, and for
scabs, cracks, sores, white patches, swelling, or bleeding. It
is often
possible to see or feel changes in the mouth that might be
cancer or a
condition that might lead to cancer. Any symptoms in your mouth
should be
checked by a doctor or dentist. Oral exams are especially
important for
people who use alcohol or tobacco products and for anyone over
age 50.
Exams For Men
Prostate - Men over age 40 should have a yearly digital rectal
exam to
check the prostate gland for hard or lumpy areas. The doctor
feels the
prostate through the wall of the rectum.
Testicles - Testicular cancer occurs most often between ages
15 and 34.
Most of these cancers are found by men themselves, often by
doing a
testicular self-exam. If you find a lump or notice another
change, such as
heaviness, swelling, unusual tenderness, or pain, you should
see your
doctor. Also, the doctor should examine the testicles as part
of regular
medical checkups.
Exams For Women
Breast - When breast cancer is found early, a woman has more
treatment
choices and a good chance of complete recovery. It is,
therefore,
important that breast cancer be detected as early as possible.
The
National Cancer Institute encourages women to take an active
part in early
detection. They should talk to their doctor about this disease,
the
symptoms to watch for, and an appropriate schedule of checkups.
Women
should ask their doctor about:
Mammograms (x-rays of the breast);
Breast exams by a doctor or nurse; and
Breast self-examination (BSE)
A mammogram can often show tumors or changes in the breast
before they
can be felt or cause symptoms. However, we know mammograms
cannot find
every abnormal area in the breast. This is especially true in
the breasts
of young women. Another important step in early detection is
for women to
have their breasts examined regularly by a doctor or a
nurse.
Between visits to the doctor, women should examine their
breasts every
month. By doing BSE, women learn what looks and feels normal
for their
breasts, and they are more likely to find a change. Any changes
should be
reported to the doctor. Most breast lumps are not cancer, but
only a
doctor can make a diagnosis.
Cervix - Regular pelvic exams and Pap tests are important to
detect
early cancer of the cervix. In a pelvic exam, the doctor feels
the uterus,
vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, and rectum for any
change in
size or shape.
For the Pap test, a sample of cells is collected from the
upper vagina
and cervix with a small brush or a flat wooden stick. The
sample is placed
in a glass slide and checked under a microscope for cancer or
other
abnormal cells.
Women should start having a Pap test every year after they
turn 18 or
become sexually active. If the results are normal for 3 or more
years in a
row, a woman may have this test less often, based on her
doctor's advice.
There are many types of ovarian cancer, epithelial carcinoma is the most common. Women with a family history of ovarian cancer have an increased risk of developing the disease. Some ovarian cancer symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and abnormal vaginal bleeding, however, they usually do not present until the disease has progressed. Early diagnosis is important for successful treatment.
In the U.S., more than 2,000 people are diagnosed with bone cancer every year. There are many types of bone cancer. The most common forms of bone cancer are osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, fibrosarcoma, and chordoma. Pain is the most common symptom. Treatment usually involves surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Colon cancer is a malignancy that arises from the inner lining of the colon. Most, if not all, of these cancers develop from colonic polyps. Removal of these precancerous polyps can prevent colon cancer.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer
in humans. There are three main types of skin cancer; basal cell carcinoma and
squamous cell carcinoma (the nonmelanoma skin cancers), and melanoma.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is cancer of the lymphatic system, a vital part of the body's immune system. Symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, coughing, weakness, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, and abdominal pain. Treatment depends on which type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma you have, the stage of the cancer, your age, how fast the cancer is growing, and whether you have other health problems.
Cervical cancer is cancer of the entrance to the womb (uterus). Regular pelvic exams and Pap testing can detect precancerous changes in the cervix. Precancerous changes in the cervix may be treated with cryosurgery, cauterization, or laser surgery. The most common symptom of cancer of the cervix is abnormal bleeding.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death in women in the U.S. Symptoms include a lump in the breast or underarm area, nipple pain, change in breast size or shape, an inverted nipple, nipple discharge, and breast skin changes. Treatment may involve chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy, hormone therapy, or surgery.
Treatment for bladder cancer depends on the stage of the disease, the grade of the tumor, and the type of bladder cancer. Options for treatment include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and biological therapy.
The term oral cancer includes cancer of the mouth (oral cavity) and the back of the mouth (oropharynx). Red and white patches inside the mouth, bleeding, loose teeth, pain upon swallowing, a lump in the neck, earache, and a sore on your lip or in your mouth that won't heal are all symptoms of oral cancer. Treatment for oral cancer depends upon the staging of the disease and usually involves surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
Multiple myeloma is a form of cancer that develops in plasma cells, the white blood cells that make antibodies. Symptoms include bone pain, weakness, extreme thirst, nausea, frequent urination, and broken bones. Treatment of multiple myeloma depends upon the staging and symptoms of the disease.
Hodgkin's disease is a cancer of the lymphatic system with symptoms that include unexplained, recurring fevers, unexplained weight loss, itchy skin, and painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, and groin. Treatment for adult Hodgkin's disease depends on the staging of the disease, the lymph nodes' size, and the health of the patient.
Prostate cancer is an uncontrolled (malignant) growth of cells in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the second
leading cause of death of males in the U.S. Prostate cancer is often initially
suspected because of an abnormal PSA blood test or a hard nodule (lump) felt on
the prostate gland during a routine rectal examination.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Barrett's esophagus occurs as a complication of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), primarily in white males. GERD refers to the reflux of acidic fluid from the stomach into the esophagus (the swallowing tube), and is classically associated with heartburn.
Testicular cancer symptoms include a painless lump or swelling in a testicle, testicle or scrotum pain, a dull ache in the abdomen, back, or groin, and a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum. Treatment for cancer of the testicles depends on the type of cancer (seminoma or nonseminoma), the stage of the cancer, and the patient's age and health.
The breast generally refers to the chest, however, more specifically, to the mammary gland. The mammary gland is a milk producing gland comprised largely of fat. Within the mammary gland is a complex network of branching ducts. The ducts exit from sac-like structures called lobules, which can produce milk in females. The darkened area around the nipple is called the areola. Common medical concerns in regard to the breast include breast lumps, breast cysts, breast cancer, and breast infections.
Male breast cancer accounts for 1% of all breast cancers, and most cases are found in men between the ages of 60 and 70. A man's risk of developing breast cancer is one in 1,000. Signs and symptoms include a firm mass located below the nipple and skin changes around the nipple, including puckering, redness or scaling, retraction and ulceration of the nipple. Treatment depends upon staging and the health of the patient.
Vaginal cancer is fairly uncommon. There are two types of vaginal cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Risk factors include being 60 or older, exposure to DES while in the womb, HPV infection, and having a history of abnormal cervical cells. Painful intercourse, pelvic pain, vaginal lumps, and abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge are all symptoms of vaginal cancer. Treatment depends upon the stage of the vaginal cancer and may involve surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and the use of radiosensitizers.
Lifestyle changes, a healthy antioxidant-rich diet, exercise, and weight reduction can help reduce a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. It's important to be aware of how risk factors such as family history, lifestyle factors, breast conditions, radiation therapy, and hormonal factors may influence your chances of developing breast cancer. Mammography and breast self-examinations are crucial steps in breast cancer prevention.
Vaginal cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the
vagina.
The vagina is the canal leading from the cervix (the opening of uterus) to
the outside of the body. At birth, a baby passes out of the body through the
vagina (also called the birth canal).
Vaginal cancer is not common. When found in early stages, it can often be
cured. There are two main types of vaginal cancer:
Squamous cell carcinoma: Cancer that forms in squamous cells, the thin,
flat cells lining the vagina. Squamous cell vaginal cancer spreads slowly and
usually stays near the vagina, but may spread to the lungs and liver. This is
the most common type of vaginal cancer. It is found most often in women aged 60
or older.
Adenocarcinoma: Cancer that begins in glandular (secretory) cells.
Glandular cells in the lining of the vagina make and release fluids such as
mucus. Adenocarcinoma is more likely than sq...
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