Cancer: Prevention & Early Detection

Knowledge about prevention and early detection is the first important step toward helping to reduce your risk for developing the different types of cancer that strike women in the United States today.

The three primary factors that determine your level of risk are:

1. age
2. Personal and family medical history
3. Lifestyle and health habits
   

According to the American Cancer Society(ACS), women ages 20 through 40 should have a cancer related checkup every three years, which can be part of an annual physical exam. Among the broad range of cancers that strike people at various points in their lives, there are four types that young women should be aware of now: lung, breast, cervical and skin.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the No.1 cancer killer of American women today. Seventy five percent of these premature deaths would be preventable if women did not smoke. In fact, women who smoke one or more packs of cigarettes a day have a risk of dying from lung cancer that is five times as great as a nonsmoker's risk.
The single most important precaution is to not smoke and to avoid exposure to second hand tobacco smoke. The goods news is that quitting early enough will provide users with time to heal most of the damage. Behavioral methods alone, or combined with nicotine gum or patches, may help you beat the habit. If you cannot quit right away, switch to low tar and nicotine cigarettes-- but do so with the understanding that smoking more of these types of cigarettes negates the effort..
See a health care provider if you:
have a nagging or painful cough that will not go away
Cough up blood
Have constant chest pains.

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer strikes one in eight women over a lifetime and is the second leading cancer killer among women in the United States. Ninety percent of all women with early stage breast cancer have no strong family history of the disease. Eighty percent of breast cancers occur in women over 50, but the disease does strike younger women. The good news is that early detection and prompt treatment can help save nearly 90 percent of all women with early stage breast cancer.

There Are three methods of detection:

1. Breast self-examination (BSE)- BSEs should be conducted monthly. Making it a lifelong habit that begins in the teenage years may help in the early detection of the disease. The best time to do a self-exam is right after your period when your breast are not tender or swollen. A doctor, nurse or other health care provider can teach you the proper method for self-examination.
2. Clinical breast exam-ACS recommends an exam by a doctor every three years for women between the ages of 20 and 40.
3. Mammography-Not recommended for younger women, but something to keep in mind for relatives. A woman should consult with her doctor about how frequently she should get a mammography between the ages of 40 and 49. An annual mammogram is recommended after the age of 50.

See a health care provider if you:
Find a lump in your breast
Notice any other changes in your breast(e.g., persistent skin rash, flaking or eruption near the nipple, nipple discharge)
Find a lump in your underarm or above your collarbone
Breast cancer can take as long as 20 years to develop before it is detected on a mammogram or felt as a lump. Recent research suggest that women may be able to lower their risk for breast cancer through certain lifestyle changes. The earlier you make preventive changes, the more likely your efforts will be effective. Cutting down on dietary fat is a very important step you can take. As with other types of cancer, exercise and avoiding alcohol also play an important role in prevention.

Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer rates have fallen dramatically in the last 40 years due to successful testing methods such as the Pap test. However, the numbers show that it is still with us: 1 or 2 women out of 100 will develop cervical cancer during a lifetime. The survival rate. If detected and treated early, is great news- nearly 100 percent. Since early detection plays such a critical role, pelvic exams and Pap test are crucial during annual exams. All women 18 or older (or those who are sexually active before then) should have an annual Pap test and pelvic exam. After woman has had three or more consecutive negatives results from the annual exams, the Pap test may be given less frequently at the health care provider's discretion. Cervical cancer take a years to develop and often does not have any early symptoms you would notice. More than 90 percent of all cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, cancers which researchers believe can be caused by infection with some strains of the sexually transmitted HPV (human papilloma virus). Research is currently being conducted to determine the role of other sexually transmitted infection in the development of cancer. Risk factors associated with cervical cancer include:
First intercourse at an early age
Numerous sexual partners
Previous incidence of other STDs such as herpes, gonorrhea or syphilis
Exposure to human papilloma virus (HPV), which is believed to be the primary culprit
Smoking
Conversely, lower than average risk is associated with:
First intercourse at age 18 to 20 or older
Intercourse with only one partner
Use of condoms, diaphragms, spermicide
If you have abnormal bleeding or discharge (watery, Cloudy or bloody tinge), see your physician.

Skin Cancer

The sun produces invisible-- or ultraviolet(UV)-- rays that cause sun damage even on cloudy days. You can burn easier on hot days because heat increase the effect of UV rays. Tanning-- outdoor and indoor--also involves UV ray absorption. Sun protection is crucial year-round. In additional to hot, sunny summer days, keep the winter season in mind—snow reflects up to 80 percent of the sun's rays and also can cause sunburn and damage.
Skin cancer affects one in five Americans. More than 90 percent of all cases are due to overexposure to sunlight, particularly when it results in sunburn and blistering. Too much sun also can cause freckles, skin texture changes, wrinkles and dilated blood vessels. Melanoma is a major cancer in young women.It can appear suddenly without warning,or begins in/near a mole or dark spot in the skin. Warning signs include changes in the surface of a mole, scaliness/oozing/bleeding of a bump or module or changes in sensation such as itchiness, tenderness or pain. If you notice any of these kinds of changes, are see a doctor.

Tips For Prevention

The most effective preventive method is sun avoidance or limited exposure by using sunscreens. The following are additional tips:
Before you go out check television, radio or newspaper weather reports for the UV index, which is daily forecast of UV exposure that indicates what protection is needed, from sunglasses and sunscreen to protective clothing.
Cover up, especially from 10 a.m. To 3 p.m., when the sun's rays are most intense.
Use a sunscreen with a least a 15 SPF rating on all exposed skin,even on cloudy days.
Wear sunglasses with UV protection.
Consider extra protection such as wearing a broad-brimmed hat and tightly woven clothes.
Keep different types of fabric in mind: unbleached cotton absorbs UV radiation and keeps it from reaching your skin; satiny silk and polyesters reflect UV radiation away from you: polyester crepe and bleached cotton allow UV rays to pass directly to your skin