Cancer ranks second to heart disease as the cause of death in the developed countries. The number of people who develop cancer is on the rise, but significant progress has been made in prevention and treatment.
Some of these cancers can be cured in the early stages, but not when the disease is too advanced. Early detection and treatment are the keys to curing cancer; preventing cancer in the first place is even better.
Success can be attributed to
(1) The diagnosis of cancers in the early localized stage,
(2) The treatment of patients as soon as possible after diagnosis, and
(3) The development of new diagnostic and treatment modalities, especially chemotherapy
General Prevention Guide lines
There are many things that you can do to help prevent cancer. Smoking has been scientifically proved to be a leading cause of cancer. If you smoke, stop. The foods that you eat can also have an effect on whether you develop cancer.
Risk Factors Associated with Cancer
* Tobacco
* Diet
* Ultraviolet Radiation
* Ionizing Radiation
* Alcohol
* Chemical and other Substances
* Hormone Replacement Therapy ( HRT )
* Diethylstilbestrol ( DES , Synthetic form of Estrogen )
* Close Relatives with certain types of Cancer
1-Eat simple food, avoid artificial color to make colorful diet.
2-Reduce the amount of fat in your diet to 30% of your total daily calorie intake.
3-Limit the amount of alcohol that you drink to one or two drinks a day.
4-Limit the amount of charbroiled, smoked, and salted foods that you eat.
5-Maintain your ideal weight.
6-Check your drinking water for Nitrates
7-Eat foods high in:
Vitamin A: apricots, peaches, carrots, spinach, asparagus, squash, and sweet potatoes
Vitamin C: oranges, lemons, grapefruit, strawberries, tomatoes, cabbage, and walnuts
Vitamin E: lettuce, alfalfa, and vegetable oils
Fibers, fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grain breads and cereals, nuts, beans, and peas
Incidence of Cancer Indirectly
1-Change in bowel or bladder habits
2-A sore that will not heal
3-Unusual bleeding or discharge
4-Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere
5-Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
6-Obvious change in a wart or mole
7-Nagging cough or hoarseness
Breast cancer
Every woman is at risk for breast cancer and this risk increases with age. Woman's risk for breast cancer is greater if her grandmother, mother or sister has had breast cancer, but remember that 80% of all women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of disease.
The Risk factors are
1-Disease in first degree relative.
2-Increased hormone risks include early starting of menstruation or late menopause and women with no pregnancy history or late first pregnancy.
3-Exogenous estrogen (Hormone) use.
4-Women with prior history of breast cancer or biopsies showing atypical changes.
5-High fat diets.
6-High Alcohol uses.
Early detection is still your best protection
The warning signal for breast cancer are:
1-a lump in the breast
2- dimpling of the skin
3- sinking in of the nipple or a discharge from the nipple
4- swelling in the breast
5- or a change in the size or shape or color of the breast.
In Female By Age
Participate in comprehensive breast screening on a regular basis. This screening consists of three activities:
1. Breast self-examination (BSE) once a month. The breast examination (BSE) is recommended about a week after your period begins for pre-menopausal women. After menopause, select a day within the month that is convenient or memorable. If you notice a change in your breast, including a lump or thickening, any unusual nipple discharge, redness, swelling, or dimpling of the breast you should schedule an appointment with your doctor. These changes do not necessarily indicate that you have cancer, so don't panic, but do check with your doctor
Your yearly medical check up should include a careful breast examination by Physician. A good clinical breast examination (CBE) consists of a medical history, a visual examination of the breasts, an examination of the lymph nodes at the base of the neck and in the armpits, and a thorough palpation of the breast tissue. Family history is also important for assessing a woman's risk factors.
3. A mammogram is one of the screening tools, a special type of X-ray of the breast that can show a tumor or a worrisome area of calcifications before other symptoms occur. A baseline mammogram should be done between the ages of 35 and 39, and a yearly mammogram after age 40. If you have a family history of breast cancer, you should start having mammograms at age 30.
Most medical authorities agree that all three methods of screening are important and necessary for your health promotion.
Avoid sex at an early age (especially before age 18), and do not have numerous partners. Use condoms, and practice good perineal hygiene.
The Risk Factors are
1-Genital viral infections
2-Smoking
3-High number of sexual partners
4-Early age at first inter course
5-Multiple pregnancies and pregnancy before age 20 years
6-Immuno-suppression
Cancer warning signals include abnormal vaginal bleeding and spotting after having sex.
Early detection involves an annual Pap smear for women over age 18. After at least three normal examinations, the tests can be done less often.
Discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of estrogen therapy if you are post menopause. Cancer warning signs include abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge and pain or a mass in the abdomen. Early detection includes pelvic examinations and an endometrial biopsy at menopause and in high-risk women.
Physicians and dentists should save many more lives from death by oral cancer, because the mouth is easily accessible to visual examination. Oral tumors affecting the lip, tongue, floor of mouth, gums, salivary glands, palate. Risk factors are tobacco use in all forms, Betel nut or leaf chewing, use of snuff, excess alcohol consumption, excess ultraviolet light exposure, Warning signals are Sore or ulcer that does not heal, color changes in the mouth, difficulty in swallowing, problem with articulating, hard neck mass.
Gastric carcinoma remains, worldwide, one of the more common gastrointestinal malignancies, responsible for 15% of all cancer deaths.Although early gastric cancer, with its much better prospect for cure, is being recognized more often (especially in Japan), the majority of Western patients present late and therefore have a poor prognosis
The risk factors are, Diet rich in additives (smoked, pickled or salted foods, highly spiced oriental foods. Gastritis, pernicious anemia, smoking or tobacco use. Helicobectar pylori infection is one of the new leading cause of ulcer, that can progress to cancer.
Colorectal cancer is one of the commonest neoplasm in developed countries and accounts for approximately 10% of deaths from malignancy It occurs at all ages, but is commonest in the sixth and seventh decades. Colonic cancer affects the both sexes approximately equally, but rectal cancer is commoner in men.
Signs and symptoms are varying with location of cancer. The early lesions are frequently asymptomatic.
Cancer warning signs include rectal bleeding, change in appearance of stools (frequency / consistency / content like mucous or blood), pain in the abdomen, and pressure on the rectum. Change in bowel habits like constipation or diarrhea. Non healing Mass/ ulcer/fissure in anal canal. Early detection includes an annual digital rectal examination by physician, starting at age 40, an annual stool blood test starting at age 50, and an annual inspection of the colon with a special instrument (sigmoidoscopy) starting at age 50.
Different Parts of Colon
( Intestine ) , 60% in Rectum
Skin cancer readily detected by observation and diagnosed by simple biopsy. Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 (the SPF is usually shown on the bottle), and wear protective clothing when in the sun. Avoid tanning booths. Cancer warning signs include a change in size, color, surface, or discharge or pain in a wart or mole and a sore that does not heal. Early detection includes an annual physical examination, a monthly self-examination of the skin, and paying particular attention to moles, warts, and birthmarks.
Glans Penis
Leading cause of death by cancer, among men and rising mortality among women. Do not smoke. Follow the guidelines at work to reduce exposure to cancer-causing substances. Risk factors are Smoking, Asbestos exposure, atmospheric pollution, and industrial material like halogen, Inorganic arsenic, and radioisotopes. Warning signs include a persistent cough or cold, hemoptysis, pain in the chest, hoarseness or wheezing, difficulty in breathing, and a change in the volume or odor of sputum.
There are no prevention guidelines for prostate cancer. Occurs mainly in men over 60; disease can be detected by palpation at regular checkup. Risk factors are genetic predisposition, Male over 60 years of age, exposure to chemical carcinogen, sexually transmitted disease. Warning signs include difficult urinating, painful and frequent urination, and blood in the urine. Early detection includes an annual digital rectal exam starting at age 40; Ultrasound examination, a measurement of prostate specific antigens (PSA) is controversial.
No prevention guidelines exist for testicular cancer. Cancer warning signs include swelling, a lump, and a heavy feeling in the testicle. Early detection includes an annual physical exam and a monthly testicular self-exam
Differential Diagnosis Ca Testis
