Cancer Awareness
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Breast Cancer Awareness |
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The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for breast cancer in the United States are for 2009:
- 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer
- 40,170 deaths from breast cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.
The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is about 1 in 8. The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 35. Breast cancer death rates are going down. This is probably the result of finding the cancer earlier and improved treatment. Right now there are about two and a half million breast cancer survivors in the United States.
Risk and Prevention Factors
Can Breast Cancer Be Prevented?
Certain changes in DNA can cause normal breast cells to become cancerous. DNA is the chemical in each of our cells that makes up our genes -- the instructions for how our cells work. Some inherited DNA changes can increase the risk for developing cancer and are responsible for the cancers that run in some families.
But most breast cancer DNA changes happen in single breast cells during a woman's life rather than having been inherited. These are called acquired changes, and most breast cancers have several of these acquired gene mutations. But so far, the causes of most acquired mutations that could lead to breast cancer remain unknown.
Risk Factors:
There is no sure way to prevent breast cancer. But there are things all women can do that might reduce their risk and help increase the odds that if cancer does occur, it is found at an early, more treatable stage.
Lowering your risk: You can lower your risk of breast cancer by changing those risk factors that can be changed. If you limit alcohol use, exercise regularly, and keep a healthy weight, you are decreasing your risk of getting breast cancer. Women who choose to breast-feed for at least several months may also reduce their breast cancer risk.
Symptoms:
The widespread use of screening mammograms has increased the number of breast cancers found before they cause any symptoms, but some are still missed.
The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A lump that is painless, hard, and has uneven edges is more likely to be cancer. But some cancers are tender, soft, and rounded.
Other signs of breast cancer include the following:
- swelling of all or part of the breast
- skin irritation or dimpling
- breast pain
- nipple pain or the nipple turning inward
- redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
- a nipple discharge other than breast milk
- a lump in the underarm area
Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines
The term screening refers to tests and exams used to find a disease like cancer in people who do not have any symptoms. The earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chances that treatment will work. The goal is to find cancers before they start to cause symptoms. The size of a breast cancer and how far it has spread are the most important factors in predicting the outlook for the patient. Most doctors feel that early detection tests for breast cancer save many thousands of lives each year. Following the guidelines given here improves the chances that breast cancer can be found at an early stage and treated with success.
Mammogram: Women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health. While mammograms can miss some cancers, they are still a very good way to find breast cancer.
A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. This test is used to look for breast disease in women who do not seem to have breast problems. It can also be used when women have symptoms such as a lump, skin change, or nipple discharge.
During a mammogram, the breast is pressed between 2 plates to flatten and spread the tissue. The pressure lasts only for a few seconds. Although this may cause some pain for a moment, it is needed to get a good picture. Very low levels of radiation are used.
Clinical breast exam: Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of a regular exam by a health expert, at least every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a health expert every year. It might be a good idea to have the CBE shortly before the mammogram. You can use the exam to learn what your own breasts feel like.
A clinical breast exam (CBE) is an exam of your breasts by a health expert such as a doctor, nurse practitioner, nurse, or physician assistant. For this exam, you undress from the waist up. The examiner will first look at your breasts for changes in size or shape. Then, using the pads of the fingers, she or he will gently feel your breasts for lumps. The area under both arms will also be checked. This is a good time to learn how to do breast self-exam if you don't already know how.
Breast self-exam (BSE): BSE is an option for women starting in their 20s. Women should be told about the benefits and limitations of BSE. Women should report any changes in how their breasts look or feel to their health professional right away.
Women should be aware of how their breasts normally look and feel and report any changes to their doctor right away. Finding a change does not mean that you have cancer.
By being aware of how your own breasts look and feel, you are likely to notice any changes that might take place. You can also choose to use a step-by-step approach to checking your breasts on a set schedule. The best time to do breast self-examination (BSE) is when your breasts are not tender or swollen.
The Cancer Services Program of Schenectady County offers free breast exams and mammograms to women age 40-64 if they do not have health insurance.
Please contact Margaret Brodie, program coordinator at the Cancer Services Program in Schenectady County at 347-5760, to see if you are eligible for a free screening.
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Cervical Cancer Awareness |
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Cervical cancer affects approximately 10,000 women in the United States each year.
Cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer for women worldwide, but because it develops over time, it is also one of the most preventable types of cancer.
Deaths from cervical cancer in the United States continue to decline by approximately 2 percent a year. This decline is primarily due to the widespread use of the Pap test to detect cervical abnormalities and allow for early treatment.
Most women who have abnormal cervical cell changes that progress to cervical cancer have never had a Pap test or have not had one in the previous three to five years.
Cancer of the cervix tends to occur during midlife. Half of the women diagnosed with the disease are between 35 and 55 years of age. It rarely affects women under age 20, and approximately 20 percent of diagnoses are made in women older than 65. For this reason, it is important for women to continue cervical cancer screening until at least the age of 70.
Risk and Prevention Factors
Signs and Symptoms of Cervical Cancer
Precancerous cervical cell changes and early cancers of the cervix generally do not cause symptoms. Abnormal or irregular vaginal bleeding, pain during sex, or vaginal discharge may be symptoms of more advanced disease.
- Abnormal bleeding, such as,
- Bleeding between regular menstrual periods
- Bleeding after sexual intercourse
- Bleeding after douching
- Bleeding after a pelvic exam
- Pelvic pain not related to your menstrual cycle
- Heavy or unusual discharge that may be watery, thick, and possibly have a foul odor
- Increased urinary frequency
- Pain during urination
Detecting Cervical Cancer
The best way to determine if precancerous or cancerous cells are present is with a Pap test. The Pap test can determine if cell changes have taken place that may indicate precancerous or cancerous development.
Pap Testing
What is the Pap test?
Since its introduction over 50 years ago, the Pap test has been the single, greatest contributor to the decline in cervical cancer. In fact, from the mid-1950’s, until the early 1990’s, cervical cancer deaths were reduced by more than 70%. And that rate continues to decline today.
Originally known as the Pap smear, the procedure involves collecting cells from the cervix (the lower, narrow part of the uterus which leads to the vagina) and smearing the cells onto a glass slide. Once the Pap smear slide is prepared, a cytotechnologist reviews the slide under a microscope to determine if cells are normal or abnormal.
In the United States today approximately 90% of Pap tests are done using “Liquid based technology” in place of the traditional “Pap smear”. Liquid-based Pap tests have been shown to improve the detection of cervical cell abnormalities. Instead of “smearing” the cells onto a slide, the collected cells are placed in a vial of preservative solution and the vial is sent to the laboratory.
How is a Pap test Performed?
The Pap test is performed to collect cervical cells for evaluation and is an essential part of a regular gynecologic exam. When you have your Pap test, you will be positioned on an exam table and a “speculum” will be gently inserted to open the vagina. The speculum allows the physician or nurse to view the cervix and upper vagina. Once the physician can see the cervix, a “broom” device or a brush/spatula combination will be used to collect the cells. While the technique is a little different depending on the device chosen, in general, the physician will gently rotate the device in the endocervix (the cervical canal) and the ectocervix (the portion of the cervix extending into the vagina) to collect squamous and glandular cells.
Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines
How often should I have a Pap?
A woman should have her first Pap test within three years after first sexual intercourse or at age 21, whichever comes first. For women ages 21 to 30, Pap tests are recommended annually. After age 30, women who test negative three years in a row on their Pap test can begin being tested every two to three years. If a woman over age 30 tests negative on both the Pap test and the HPV test (“HPV DNA with Pap test”), she may be screened using the combined test every three years.
In addition, women who have undergone hysterectomy with removal of the cervix who have no history of cancerous cell growth may discontinue routine Pap screening.
The Cancer Services Program provides FREE pelvic exams and Pap testing to women age 40-64 if they do not have health insurance.
Please contact Margaret Brodie, program coordinator at the Cancer Services Program in Schenectady County at 347-5760, to see if you are eligible for a free screening.
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Colorectal Cancer Awareness |
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Cancers of the colon and rectum, often collectively referred to as colorectal cancer, are life-threatening tumors that develop in the large intestine.
Polyps are very common, and most of them are benign. Their numbers increase with age. Polyps are found in about 25% of people by age 50, and 50% of people by age 75. Fewer than 1% of polyps under 1 centimeter (slightly less than half an inch) become cancerous. About 10% of larger polyps become cancerous within 10 years, and about 25% of these larger polyps become cancerous after 20 years.
Risk Factors and Prevention
WHY SHOULD I BE AWARE?
Colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable and beatable if found early. Yet every 9 minutes, someone dies of colorectal cancer and more than 50,000 people will die of the disease this year.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the U.S., with Americans facing a lifetime chance of 5 - 6% for this cancer. Men and women are at equal risk. Each year, about 108,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer. About 73% of cancers occur in the colon and 27% in the rectum.
SYMPTOMS:
In many cases, there are no noticeable symptoms. Many patients are free of symptoms until their tumors are quite advanced.
However, the known symptoms could include:
- Diarrhea, constipation or other changes in bowel habits that last longer than a few days
- Blood in the stool
- Pain, discomfort or tenderness in the lower abdomen
- Unexplained weight loss, anemia and/or constant tiredness
RISK FACTORS
Your risk for colorectal cancer could be higher if you:
- Are age 50 or older
- Have a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps
- Are African-American
- Have a high-fat diet, especially animal fats and red meats
- Have a personal history of polyps (tissue growths), bowel disease or diabetes
- Have an inactive lifestyle and/or are overweight
- Use tobacco and/or alcohol (more than one drink a day)
Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines
American Cancer Society Recommendations: The American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiology, and the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer have released joint consensus guidelines for colorectal cancer screening.
These organizations recommend the following test options and schedules for adults age 50 years and older with no significant risk factors for colorectal cancer. Discuss with your doctor which test is most appropriate for you.
The Cancer Services Program of Fulton and Montgomery Counties offers a colorectal cancer screening kit:
- Annual Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) with high sensitivity every year
Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT). The fecal immunochemical test is a non-invasive, newer type of take-home test for hidden (occult) blood. The test is similar to the fecal occult blood test, but patients do not need to follow medication or dietary restrictions. As with the FOBT, a colonoscopy is recommended if blood is found in the stool.
The Cancer Services Program offers men and women age 50-64 free colorectal screening kits if they do not have health insurance.
Please contact Margaret Brodie, program coordinator at the Cancer Services Program in Schenectady County at 347-5760, to see if you are eligible for a free kit.
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Program Eligibility:
- Uninsured women over the age of 40-64 are eligible for breast and cervical screenings.
- Uninsured men and women over 50-64 are eligible for colorectal cancer screenings.
Reimbursable Screening Services:
- Mammograms
- Pap tests
- Pelvic exams
- Clinical breast exams (CBE)
- Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)/Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)
- Colonoscopy (Men and women who are at elevated risk for colorectal cancer)
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