Be Aware: Early detection and screening for cancer saves lives!
Posted Jul 1, 2010 By EMC News
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Tweet ThisBrockville native, Thy Dinh, a PhD candidate in Population Health at the University of Ottawa was on hand at the Relay For Life in Brockville to speak about the importance of early detection and screening. Ms. Dinh, who is funded in part by the Canadian Cancer Society, is currently working on evaluating breast cancer screening programs in Canada.
It may seem that cancer can't be avoided, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk of the disease.
Be aware of your body and know what is normal for you. Don't ignore any changes. If you notice any unusual changes, tell your doctor about them. The sooner you report signs to your doctor, the sooner a problem can be dealt with.
Screening tests help find some types of cancer early, before you have any symptoms. Some screening tests can even help prevent cancer by finding changes in your body that would become cancer if they were left untreated. Some screening test that are available to help find cancer early are...
Breast - Women 50 or older can book an appointment for a mammogram (breast x-ray) and a clinical breast examination by a trained health professional at the Ontario Breast Screening Centre in Brockville by calling 613-345-8304
Cervical - Regular Pap tests could save your life, so call your doctor or nurse practitioner to book one today. It is recommended that you should have a Pap test every 1 to 3 years, depending on your previous test results.
Colorectal - If you are 50 or older, have a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) at least every 2 years. It is a simple test you can take by yourself in the privacy of your home. Collect small stool samples using the sticks and sample card that come in your FOBT kit.
The test is free and you mail it back in a postage-paid envelope or drop it off at a lab for analysis. For more information visit coloncancercheck.ca or 1 866 410-5853.
Prostate - Men 50 or older should talk to their doctor about their personal risk of developing prostate cancer and about the risks and benefits of testing.
These tests may be used for the early detection of prostate cancer but may also cause "false alarms" or miss prostate cancer that is present: Digital rectal exam (DRE) or Prostate-specific antigen test (PSA).
Skin - The best way to prevent skin cancer is to protect yourself from the sun, particularly when the sun's rays are at their strongest between 11 am and 4 pm or any time of day when the UV Index is 3 or higher.Avoid using indoor tanning equipment, check your skin regularly and report any changes to your doctor.
Testicular - While testicular cancer is quite rare, men between the ages of 15 and 49 are at an increased risk of developing it. Treatment for testicular cancer is usually successful, especially if the cancer is found early. Have regular medical checkups by your doctor that include testicular examination.
If you have a family history of cancer, you may be at higher than normal risk for some cancers. Talk to your doctor about your history and whether you should be tested at an earlier age than recommended by the provincial guidelines.
For more information on cancer prevention visit www.cancer.ca or call 1 888 939-3333.
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