Prevent cancer

  • Prevent cancer in seven simple steps

    prevent_cancer

  • Breast Cancer

     

    This year, an estimated 232,670 women and 2,360 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Nearly 40,430 will die of the disease (an additional 62,570 people are estimated to develop non-invasive carcinoma in-situ). If diagnosed early and treated before it spreads, five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 99 percent.

    The Prevent Cancer Foundation has commissioned a series of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) designed to entertain while raising awareness about preventable cancers. Breast Cancer (BC) is very emotional because the person he was attracted to is eating right and exercising. He feels like she may be trying to get rid of him.

     

    • Women with abnormal genes, such as BRCA-1 or BRCA-2.
    • Women who began their menstrual periods before age 12 or began menopause after age 55.
    • Women who have used hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with estrogen and progesterone for a long time.
    • Women and men who are overweight or obese.
    • Women and men who are not physically active.
    • Women and men over 40 (Most breast cancer is diagnosed in women over 40.).
    • Women and men with a family history of breast cancer (Risk increases if several close relatives have been diagnosed with breast cancer or if a person’s mother was diagnosed before age 50.).
    • Women and men who have already had cancer in one breast.
    • Women and men with a family history of ovarian cancer.
    • Women and men who have had radiation therapy to their chests.

     

    Breast Cancer Prevention and Early Detection

    Breast cancer is a preventable disease and, if detected early and diagnosed, a disease that can be successfully treated.

    Below are ways to help prevent breast cancer and detect the disease early.

    Breast Cancer Prevention

    • If you have babies, breast feed them.
    • Limit alcohol to no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
    • Exercise daily for 30 to 60 minutes.
    • Maintain a healthy weight.
    • Don’t smoke. If you do smoke, quit.

     

    Breast Cancer Early Detection

    • In your 20s and 30s, have a clinical breast exam (CBE) by a health care professional at least every three years.
    • Beginning at age 40, have an annual CBE.
    • At age 40, begin annual screening mammography.
    • If you are at high risk, talk with your health care professional about beginning annual screening mammograms at a younger age and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
    • If you have a family history of breast cancer, talk with your health care professional about genetic testing.
    • At menopause, talk with your health care professional about whether you should have hormone replacement therapy.
    • Breast self-exam is one way that you can get to know what is normal for your breasts. If you notice changes, see your health care professional right away.

     

    Don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Get screened according to guidelines. If you do notice any of the following symptoms, talk with your health care professional.

    • A lump, hard knot or thickening in the breast.
    • A lump under your arm.
    • A change in the size or shape of a breast.
    • Nipple pain, tenderness or discharge, including bleeding.
    • Itchiness, scales, soreness or rash on nipple.
    • A nipple turning inward or inverted.
    • A change in skin color and texture (dimpling, puckering or redness).
    • A breast that feels warm or swollen.

     

    Breast Cancer treatment depends on the type and stage of the breast cancer.

    • The most common forms of treatment are: The most common treatment is surgery to remove the cancer itself (lumpectomy) combined with radiation. In some cases, removal of the breast (mastectomy) is needed.
    • Chemotherapy, radiation or hormone therapy may be used alone or in combination before or after surgery.

  • Cervical Cancer

     

    This year, an estimated 12,360 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and nearly 4,020 will die of the disease. Cervical cancer used to be one of the most common causes of cancer death in women in the United States. Today, lives are saved because of regular screening with a Pap test (also called a Pap smear).

    CervicalCancer2

     

    • Women who have the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus.
    • Women who began having sex at an early age.
    • Women who have multiple sex partners.
    • Women who don’t have regular Pap tests.
    • Women who smoke.
    • Women who have used birth control pills for a long time.
    • Women with weakened immune systems, such as women who have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
    • Women who are overweight or obese.
    • Women who have a close relative, such as a sister or mother, who has had cervical cancer.
    • Women who were exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth.

     

    Cervical cancer is a preventable disease and, if detected early, a cancer that can be successfully treated. Below are ways to prevent cervical cancer and detect the disease early.

    Cervical Cancer Prevention

    • Avoid infection with HPV by practicing safer sex. (Condoms can’t give complete protection against HPV because the virus can infect areas that aren’t covered by a condom.)
    • Don’t smoke, or, if you do smoke, quit.

    Cervical Cancer Early Detection

    • All women should begin cervical cancer testing at age 21. Women aged 21 to 29 should receive a Pap test every 3 years. HPV testing should not be used for screening in this age group unless used as a follow-up for an abnormal Pap test.
    • Women between the ages of 30 and 65 should have a Pap test plus an HPV test every 5 years. This is the preferred approach, but it is also OK to have a Pap test alone every 3 years. Women at high risk, exposed to DES before birth or with a weakened immune system may need to be screened more often.
    • Talk with your health care professional about the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that are most likely to cause cancer. It’s most effective if a person is vaccinated before becoming sexually active. The vaccine is recommended for girls who are age 11 to 12. Girls may also be vaccinated at age 9 or 10. Girls may get a “catch-up” vaccine up to age 18. Young women age 19 to 26 who have never been vaccinated may also get the vaccine.
    • Women over age 65 who have had regular cervical cancer testing with normal results should not be tested for cervical cancer. Women with a history of serious cervical pre-cancer should continue to be tested for at least 20 years after that diagnosis, even if testing continues past age 65.
    • Women who have had a hysterectomy should stop screening unless the surgery was done as a treatment for cervical cancer or pre-cancer. Women who have had a hysterectomy that left behind the cervix should continue to follow the guidelines above.

     

    Don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Get screened according to guidelines. If you do notice any of the following symptoms, talk with your health care professional.

    • Increased or unusual discharge from the vagina.
    • Blood spots or light bleeding at times other than during a normal period.
    • Menstrual bleeding that lasts longer and is heavier than usual.
    • Bleeding or pain during or after sex.
    • Bleeding after menopause.

     

    Cervical cancer is treated through surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. These therapies may be given alone or in combination with one another. Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer, the type of tumor cells and a woman’s medical condition.

  • Colorectal Cancer

     

    Colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon or rectum. It’s as common in women as it is in men. This year, over 136,830 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and an estimated 50,310 will die of the disease. With certain types of screening, this cancer can be prevented by removing polyps (grape-like growths on the wall of the intestine) before they become cancerous. Several screening tests detect colorectal cancer early, when it can be more easily and successfully treated.

     

    • People age 50 and older.
    • People who smoke.
    • People who are overweight or obese, especially those who carry fat around their waists.
    • People who aren’t physically active.
    • People who drink alcohol in excess, especially men.
    • People who eat a lot of red meat (such as beef, pork or lamb) or processed meat (such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs or cold cuts).
    • People with personal or family histories of colorectal cancer or benign (not cancerous) colorectal polyps.
    • People with personal histories of inflammatory bowel disease (such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease).
    • People with family histories of inherited colorectal cancer or inherited colorectal problems.

     

    Although a leading cause of cancer death for both men and women, if detected early, colorectal cancer can be more easily and successfully treated.

    Colorectal Cancer Prevention

    • Be physically active for at least 30 minutes, at least five days a week.
    • Maintain a healthy weight.
    • Don’t smoke. If you do smoke, quit.
    • If you drink alcohol, have no more than one drink a day if you’re a woman or two drinks a day if you’re a man.
    • Eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains to help you get and stay healthy.
    • Eat less red meat and cut out processed meat.

    Colorectal Cancer Early Detection

    If you’re at average risk for colorectal cancer, start getting screened at age 50. If you’re at higher risk, you may need to start regular screening at an earlier age and be screened more often. If you’re older than 75, ask your doctor if you should continue to be screened. The best time to get screened is before you have any symptoms.

    Use this information to help you talk about screening options with your health care professional. Consider one of these tests:

    Tests that find pre-cancer and cancer:

    • Colonoscopy – Every 10 years.
    • Virtual colonoscopy – Every 5 years.
    • Flexible sigmoidoscopy – Every 5 years.
    • Double-contrast barium enema – Every 5 years

    Tests that mainly find cancer

    • Stool occult blood test (FOBT) (guaiac) – Every year.
    • Stool immunochemical test (FIT) – Every year.
    • Stool DNA test (sDNA) – Ask your health care professional because technology is evolving.An abnormal result of a virtual colonoscopy or a double-contrast barium enema, or a positive FOBT, FIT or sDNA test, should be followed up with a colonoscopy.

     

    Early stages of colorectal cancer don’t usually have symptoms. Later on, people may have these symptoms:

    • Bleeding from the rectum or blood in or on the stool.
    • Change in bowel habits.
    • Stools that are more narrow than usual.
    • General problems in the abdomen, such as bloating, fullness or cramps.
    • Diarrhea, constipation or a feeling in the rectum that the bowel movement isn’t quite complete.
    • Weight loss for no apparent reason.
    • Being tired all the time.
    • Vomiting.

     

    Surgery is the most common treatment. When the cancer has spread, chemotherapy or radiation may be given before or after surgery.

  • Lung Cancer

     

    Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women. This year, an estimated 224,210 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer and over 159,260 will die of the disease. Lung cancer accounts for about 14 percent of all new cancer diagnoses and 27 percent of all cancer deaths. Smoking is the most important risk factor for lung cancer.

     

    The Prevent Cancer Foundation has commissioned a series of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) designed to entertain while raising awareness about preventable cancers. “Good Old Days” focuses on lung cancer, not satisfied with continuing to be a leading cause of cancer death, she wants a return to the days when there were more smokers and second hand smoke was everywhere.

     

    • People who smoke.
    • People exposed to second-hand smoke.
    • People exposed to indoor and outdoor air pollution.
    • People exposed to certain toxic substances, such as arsenic, radon or asbestos.
    • People whose jobs expose them to radiation.
    • People with personal or family histories of lung cancer.

     

    Lung Cancer Prevention

    • Don’t smoke. If you smoke, quit.
    • Stay away from second-hand smoke.
    • Make your home and community smoke-free.
    • Check your home for radon. (Qualified contractors can be located through state radon offices, which are listed on the EPA Web site at http://www.epa.gov/radon/whereyoulive.html).
    • Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
    • Some research says being physically active may reduce your risk.

    Lung Cancer Early Detection

    lung_cancerEarly results of a large study on a new way to screen for lung cancer in smokers and former smokers showed that low-dose helical CT scans (often called spiral CT scans) reduced the rate of death from lung cancer. If you’re a smoker or a former smoker, talk with your health care professional to see if screening is a good choice for you.

     

     

     

     

    In the early stages, there may be no symptoms. Later these symptoms may occur:

    • A cough that doesn’t go away.
    • Coughing up blood.
    • Constant chest pain.
    • Repeated pneumonia or bronchitis.
    • Weight loss and loss of appetite.
    • Hoarseness.
    • Wheezing or shortness of breath.
    • Feeling very tired all the time.

     

    Lung cancer treatment depends on the type of cancer (small cell or non-small cell), the size of the tumor and whether or not it has spread.

    • Surgery is the usual treatment for disease in its early stages when it has not spread outside the lungs. Sometimes in early stages chemotherapy is used in combination with surgery.
    • Radiation and chemotherapy are sometimes used in combination with surgery for later stages of the disease.
    • Some patients with stage IV lung cancer (disease that has spread to distant organs) may be treated with oral therapies. These are patients with tumors that show certain genetic changes. Patients should have their tumors tested for these genetic changes.
    • New, less invasive surgery may help patients recover more quickly with the same results as older, more invasive surgery.

  • Oral Cancer

     

    Oral cancer is cancer of the mouth or throat. This year, an estimated 42,440 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer and nearly 8,390 will die of the disease. Oral cancer is twice as common in men as in women. Not using tobacco and not drinking alcohol in excess can prevent most oral cancer. However, one in four people diagnosed with oral cancer has no risk factors. It’s important to see your dentist regularly for screenings.

     

    • People who chew or smoke tobacco.
    • People who drink alcohol in excess.
    • People who drink a lot of alcohol and use tobacco.
    • People who are exposed to sunlight for long periods of time.
    • People with a certain type of human papillomavirus (HPV).
    • People whose immune systems are suppressed by certain medications.
    • People with a skin disease called lichen planus, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), or certain inherited conditions of the blood.

     

    Oral cancer is a preventable disease and, if caught early, a cancer that can be beaten with the right treatment. Here is a list of ways to help prevent oral cancer as well as a list to aid with the early detection of the disease.

    Oral Cancer Prevention

    • Don’t use tobacco in any form. If you use tobacco, quit.
    • Limit alcohol to no more than one drink a day if you’re a woman or two drinks a day if you’re a man.
    • Stay out of the sun, especially between 10 am and 4 pm when sunlight is strongest.
    • Always use lip balm with SPF 30 or higher.
    • Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.

    Oral Cancer Early Detection

    • Have an oral cancer screening by your dentist at your regular check-up.
    • Look at your mouth in a mirror once a month. If you see something different, tell your dentist.

     

    Don’t wait for oral cancer symptoms to appear. Get screened according to guidelines. If you do notice any of the following symptoms, talk with your health care professional.

    • White or red patches on lips, gum, tongue or mouth lining.
    • A lump which can be felt inside the mouth or on the neck.
    • Pain or difficulty chewing, swallowing or speaking.
    • Hoarseness lasting a long time.
    • Numbness or pain in any area of the mouth that doesn’t go away.
    • Swelling of the jaw.
    • Loosening of teeth.
    • Difficulty wearing dentures.
    • Bleeding in the mouth.
    • A sore that doesn’t go away on the lips or in the mouth.
    • An earache that doesn’t go away.

     

    Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and newer targeted therapies may be used alone or in combination.

  • Prostate Cancer

     

    This year, an estimated 233,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and an estimated 29,480 will die from the disease. Most prostate cancer is diagnosed in men older than 65.

     

    • All men over age 50.
    • Men who are African American.
    • Men with a family history of prostate cancer.

     

    Prostate Cancer Prevention

    You might lower your risk of prostate cancer by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising and never smoking or quitting, if you do smoke. More research is needed to determine whether certain foods or supplements lower the risk of prostate cancer.

    Prostate Cancer Early Detection

    • At 50, start talking with your health care professional about the pros and cons of getting tested—or not getting tested.
    • There is no question that in some cases early detection of prostate cancer followed by prompt treatment saves lives.
    • It is also clear that some men are treated for cancers that will never cause them harm, and they must live with the side effects and complications of this treatment.
    • Currently available tests are useful but are not 100 percent accurate. Sometimes a test indicates cancer where none exists, and sometimes it does not indicate cancer where it does exist.
    • A PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) blood test may be done every one or two years, depending on the results. Over time, if a PSA level goes up, the chances of having prostate cancer also go up. Another test, the DRE (Digital Rectal Exam), is optional.
    • Researchers are working to improve screening methods and to determine which cancers are likely to be life-threatening.
    • If you are an African American man, or if you have a close relative (father or brother) who had prostate cancer before age 65, start talking to your doctor about prostate cancer when you are 45. If more than one of your close male relatives had prostate cancer before 65, start that talk when you turn 40.

     

    In the early stages, there are usually no symptoms. Some men experience symptoms that include:

    • Urinary problems (not being able to urinate, having trouble starting or stopping urine flow, having a weak or interrupted urine flow, feeling pain or a burning sensation while urinating).
    • Blood in the urine.
    • Painful or difficult erection.
    • Pain in lower back, pelvis or upper thighs

    Urinary symptoms may also be caused by other health problems, including BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia).

     

    Current treatment options vary, depending on the stage of the cancer and other medical conditions of the individual.

    • Treatments include surgery, radiation or hormone therapy. Sometimes treatments are combined.
    • Some prostate cancers grow very slowly and do not require immediate treatment. In these cases, men and their doctors may decide on “active surveillance” with regular follow-ups, usually every three to six months. This option should be open to reassessment, as a man’s condition or concerns may change.

    Researchers are working to improve current treatment methods and develop new ones.

  • Skin Cancer

     

    Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis, and it’s the most preventable cancer. Most skin cancer is caused by damage from the sun’s UV rays (ultraviolet radiation). This year, an estimated 76,100 people will be diagnosed with melanoma—skin_cancerthe most dangerous type of skin cancer—and over 9,710 will die of the disease. Every year, as many as two million people are diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer—either basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma.

     

     

    Recent research on the benefits of vitamin D (made by the skin from sunlight) indicates that just a brief exposure of your face, arms and hands to the sun is sufficient—about 15 minutes a day, three days per week. Talk to your health care professional about Vitamin D and your health.

     

    Skin Cancer Prevention

    • Avoid the sun, especially between 10 am and 4 pm, and don’t use sun lamps or tanning beds.
    • Always use sunscreen and lip balm with UVB and UVA protection with SPF 30 or more, even on cloudy days.
    • Apply an ounce of sunscreen—a palm full—20 minutes before going out in the sun and reapply every two hours if in continuous sun.
    • Wear sunglasses that have been treated to absorb UV radiation, a wide brim hat, and clothing made of tightly woven material with long sleeves.
    • Protect children from the sun. Childhood sunburns may increase the risk of melanoma later in life.

     

    Skin Cancer Early Detection

    • Look at your skin once a month. Tell your health care professional about any changes.
    • Have your health care professional examine your skin once a year after age 50.

    As part of Cancer Prevention Month in February 2014, check out the Feel the Love: Check Your Mate™ awareness campaign.

     

    • A sore that doesn’t heal.
    • A mole or other growth you haven’t noticed before.
    • Change in the border of a spot, spread of color, redness or swelling around the area.
    • A small, smooth, shiny, pale or waxy lump that may bleed.
    • Large areas with oozing or crust.
    • A flat red spot or a lump that is scaly or crusty.
    • Itchiness, tenderness or pain from a mole or elsewhere on your skin.
    • A brown or black colored spot with uneven edges

     

    When looking at moles, remember the ABCDE rule: Asymmetry (one half of the mole doesn’t match the other), Border irregularity, Color that is not uniform, Diameter greater than 6 mm (about the size of a pencil eraser), and Evolving size, shape or color.

    Talk with your health care professional if you notice any of these symptoms.

     

    Skin cancer treatment depends on the type and stage of the skin cancer. Click to see the most common skin cancer treatments.

    Common Treatment for Skin Cancer:

    • Surgery.
    • Various chemotherapies.
    • Radiation.
    • Biological drug treatments

     

    Other Possible Treatment:

    • Immunotherapy (for melanoma skin cancer).
    • Photodynamic therapy (for non-melanoma skin cancer).

  • Testicular Cancer

     

    This year, over 8,820 men will be diagnosed with testicular cancer, and an estimated 380 will die of the disease. It is the most common cancer in men age 15 to 35. When found early and treated appropriately, testicular cancer is usually curable.

     

    • Men with personal history of undescended testicle at birth, or other abnormal development of the testes.
    • Men who are infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).
    • Men with a genetic problem caused by having an extra X chromosome.
    • Men with personal or family histories of testicular cancer.
    • Men who are white are more likely to develop testicular cancer than in men of other races.

     

    Testicular Cancer Early Detection

    • Ask your health care professional to examine your testicles as part of a routine physical exam.
    • Talk with your health care professional about testicular self-exam. It is one way to get to know what is normal for you. If you notice a change, talk with your health care professional right away.
    • If you have a son who was born with an undescended testicle, talk with his health care professional about correcting it before he reaches puberty.

    As part of Cancer Prevention Month in February 2014, check out the Feel the Love: Check Your Mate™ awareness campaign.

     

    Talk with your health care professional right away if you have any of these symptoms:

    • A painless lump, enlargement or swelling in either testicle.
    • A change in how the testicle feels.
    • Dull aching in the lower abdomen, back or groin.
    • Pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum.
    • Sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum.
    • Feeling of heaviness in the scrotum.

    Testicular cancer treatment depends on the stage and type of the cancer, and the size of the tumor. It also depends on whether the cancer has spread beyond the testicle. Treatment can include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, alone or in combination.

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