Harnessing prevention to fight cancer.These days it is common knowledge that it's important to get yourself checked for various forms of cancer. Despite the universal fear of cancer, however, there are many who refuse to conduct self checks--let alone visit their doctors for routine physicals. As health care professionals, we work daily to fight the stigma and fear surrounding cancer that often prevents individuals from working to detect signs of cancer in their own bodies. It is important to note what is perhaps the number one way to beat cancer: early detection and prevention. The bottom line is this: early detection greatly improves your chances of surviving cancer. Prevention can help you and your family avoid cancer. Not only does it increase the effectiveness of traditional radiation and chemotherapies, but early detection also allows health professionals to treat cancer before it spreads or "metastasizes" or spreads rapidly throughout the body. Studies show that metastasis metastasis /me·tas·ta·sis/ (me-tas´tah-sis) pl. metas´tases 1. transfer of disease from one organ or part of the body to another not directly connected with it, due either to transfer of pathogenic microorganisms or to is the process that makes cancer so deadly. According to the federal government's National Cancer Institute, when breast cancer remains localized and does not spread, five-year survival five-year survival Epidemiology The timespan that a person survives with a particular dread disease, in particular CA; 5YS facilitates standardization of survival statistics. See Cancer-free survival. rates for patients are much higher. But when breast cancer cells metastasize me·tas·ta·size v. To be transmitted or transferred by or as if by metastasis. Metastasize Spread of cells from the original site of the cancer to other parts of the body where secondary tumors are formed. to other parts of the body, the chance for survival is much less. Today, there are a number of diagnostic tests that your physician Or health care provider can use to detect cancer early in its development, including mammography mammography, diagnostic procedure that uses low-dose X rays to detect abnormalities in the breasts. The early diagnosis of breast cancer made possible by the routine use of mammography for screening women increases a woman's treatment alternatives and improves her , Pap tests, blood tests to detect prostate cancer prostate cancer, cancer originating in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the leading malignancy in men in the United States and is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in men. , and physical examinations of the skin, colon, rectum, and testicles Testicles Also called testes or gonads, they are part of the male reproductive system, and are located beneath the penis in the scrotum. Mentioned in: Testicular Cancer, Testicular Surgery, Vasectomy . Be sure to ask your doctor which examinations and laboratory tests are right for you. If you are a smoker, for example, you may be a candidate for lung cancer--it is important to have a chest x-ray chest x-ray, n an examination of the chest using x-rays. Routinely performed in patients complaining of chest pain to rule out respiratory or heart disease. chest X-ray Chest film, see there taken periodically. In addition, there are a number of simple things that you can do to help detect cancer, such as monthly breast self-exams for women and testicular testicular /tes·tic·u·lar/ (tes-tik´u-lar) pertaining to a testis. tes·tic·u·lar adj. Of or relating to a testicle or testis. testicular pertaining to the testis. self-exams for men. Ask your physician if you fall into a high risk group for any forms of cancer and how you can check yourself for symptoms of the disease. Of course, receiving a clean bill of health a certificate from the proper authority that a ship is free from infection. See also: Clean from your physician is only half the battle. The best offense against cancer is a good defense--meaning that it is also essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle which includes implementing the practical cancer-preventing tips listed below. CANCER PREVENTION TIPS Fifty percent of all cancers can be prevented by things you can do. With the number one cancer prevention tip (regular self-checks and checkups for the purpose of early detection) having been described above, key cancer prevention methods are outlined below. If you and your family are not doing all of the following already, it may be wise to start slowly. Choose one or two and then move on to the others. Also, make cancer prevention a team effort!! Work with your family on the following tips. Teaching your children healthy living habits now can help them avoid cancer later. MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY If you're overweight, lose weight. If you're already at a healthy weight, maintain it. Maintaining a healthy weight lowers the risk of cancers of the colon, rectum, uterus, and breast. Tip for maintaining a healthy weight: * Balance the amount of food you eat with the amount of energy you use. Tips for parents: * Teach your children good eating habits, now! * Limit the amount of time your children sit around the house. * Encourage healthy snacking on fruits and vegetables. GET AT LEAST 30 MINUTES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY EVERY DAY Being physically active lowers the risk of colon cancer colon cancer, cancer of any part of the colon (often called the large intestine). Colon cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in the United States. and may lower the risk of breast cancer. Physical activity tips: * A lot of things count as physical activity, maybe even your job if you are active at work. Try walking, jogging, or dancing--whatever you enjoy! * Any amount of physical activity is better than none. Tips for parents: * Do physically active things with your kids on a regular basis, beginning when they are very young. * Encourage children to play outside and participate in organized sports or other physical activities like dancing or aerobics. DON'T SMOKE If you already smoke, quit for good as soon as you can. Tobacco use including cigarettes, pipes, cigars, and chewing tobacco chewing tobacco, n See smokeless tobacco. chewing tobacco Smokeless tobacco, see there ) is linked to cancers of the lung, throat, pancreas, kidney, bladder, cervix cervix /cer·vix/ (ser´viks) pl. cer´vices [L.] 1. neck. 2. the front portion of the neck. 3. cervix uteri. , prostate, colon, and rectum. Tips for quitting smoking: * Keep trying! Quitting is tough but not impossible. Over 1,000 Americans stop for good every day. * Talk to a health care provider for help. * Join a quit-smoking program * Talk to the human resource office where you work. Your employer may offer quit-smoking programs for employees. Tips for parents and grandparents grandparents npl → abuelos mpl grandparents grand npl → grands-parents mpl grandparents grand npl : * Try to quit as soon as possible. If you smoke, your children will also be more likely to smoke. Set an example! * Don't smoke in the house or car. If kids breathe in your smoke, they may have a higher risk of breathing problems and lung cancer lung cancer, cancer that originates in the tissues of the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States in both men and women. Like other cancers, lung cancer occurs after repeated insults to the genetic material of the cell. . * When appropriate, talk to your kids about the dangers of smoking and chewing tobacco. EAT A HEALTHY DIET A healthy diet lowers the risk of cancers of the prostate, breast, lung, colon, rectum, stomach and pancreas. Tips for eating a healthy diet: * Make fruits and vegetables a part of every meal. Put fruit on your cereal. Eat vegetables as a snack. * Choose chicken, fish, or beans, instead of red meat. The less red meat, the better. * Choose foods like pasta, brown rice, and whole wheat bread. Tips for parents and grandparents: * Have a bowl of fruit out all the time for children to take snacks from. * When eating at fast food restaurants, encourage children to choose broiled broil 1 v. broiled, broil·ing, broils v.tr. 1. To cook by direct radiant heat, as over a grill or under an electric element. 2. To expose to great heat. v. chicken sandwiches rather than burgers. * Make sandwiches using whole wheat bread. DRINK LESS THAN ONE ALCOHOLIC DRINK PER DAY One drink is a glass of wine, a bottle of beer, or a shot of hard liquor hard liquor A popular term for beverages with a high–often > 30% by volume–ie, 60 proof alcohol content–eg, gin, rum, vodka, whiskey; HLs are preferred by alcoholics as a steady state of low-level inebriation is easier to maintain. See Standard drink. . Limiting alcohol lowers the risk of cancers of the breast, colon, rectum, mouth, throat and esophagus. Tips for drinking less alcohol: * Choose non-alcoholic beverages at meals and parties. * Avoid occasions centered around alcohol. * Talk to a health care professional if you feel you have trouble limiting alcohol. Tips for parents and grandparents: * Avoid making alcohol an essential part of family gatherings. * When appropriate, discuss the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse with children. * A health care professional or school counselor can help. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE SUN Sunlight is linked directly to skin cancer. Tips for protecting yourself from the sun: * Stay out of direct sunlight between 10:00am and 4:00pm (peak burning hours). It's the best way to protect yourself. * Use hats, shirts, and SPF (1) (Stateful Packet Firewall) See stateful inspection. (2) (Sender Policy Framework) An e-mail authentication system that verifies that the message came from an authorized mail server. 15 sunscreens Sunscreens Definition Sunscreens are products applied to the skin to protect against the harmful effects of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Purpose Everyone needs a little sunshine. or higher. * Avoid getting sunburned sun·burn n. Inflammation or blistering of the skin caused by overexposure to direct sunlight. tr. & intr.v. sun·burned or sun·burnt , sun·burn·ing, sun·burns To affect or be affected with sunburn. . * Do not use sun lamps or tanning booths. Tips for parents and grandparents: * Make sure children are properly protected from the sun with hats, long-sleeved shirts, and SPF 15 sunscreens or higher. Serious skin cancer is caused by sunburns in childhood. * Be an example for your children to follow. Take control of your health, and improve the health of your family, by following these recommendations. Doing so will help you and your family lower risk not only for cancer but also for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Information provided by the National Cancer Institute. |
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