Cancer Prevention

• Skin Cancer Prevention

  Avoid overexposure to sunlight between 10 am to 3 pm (midday sunlight)
• Oral Cancer Prevention

  Oral and dental exam 2x a year
• Breast Cancer Prevention

  Monthly BSE from age 20 years done few days (5-7 days) after menstruation starting the first day of menses
• Breast Cancer Prevention

  Annual mammogram from age 40 years
• Lung Cancer Prevention

  Quit cigarette smoking and annual chest x-ray
• Colon Cancer Prevention

  Annual digital rectal exam (DRE) from age 40 years
• Colon Cancer Prevention

  Annual Guaiac stool exam from age 50 years
• Guaic Stool Exam

  NC:

  • No vitamin C - false negative
  • No iron and dark-colored foods - false positive

  Nitrazine paper = blue = positive bleeding
• Colon Cancer Prevention

  Proctosigmoidoscopic exam from age 50 years every 5 years after negative result for 2 consecutive years
• Colon Cancer Prevention

  Colonoscopy every 10 years
• Uterus/Cervical Cancer Prevention

  Annual Papanicolaou (Pap exam) for all sexually active or had been sexually active women
• Uterus/Cervical Cancer Prevention

  If not sexually active or had not been sexually active, baseline Pap exam at age 40 years
• Basic Cancer Prevention

  Annual blood works and physical exam
• Pap Smear Preparation

  • NO menstruation
  • NO sexual intercourse for 24 hours before the test
  • AVOID vaginal douche 24 hours before the test
  • AVOID inserting anything into the vagina 24 hours before the test (cervical cap, cervical diaphragm, spermicide, condom)
• Dietary Recommendations Against Cancer

  • AVOID Obesity
  • Fat: Low
  • Fiber: High e.g. fruits and vegetables
  • Vitamins: A & C in daily diet e.g. tomatoes
  • Vegetables: Cruciferous e.g. cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, brussel sprouts
  • Alcohol: Moderate or AVOID
  • Salt-cured, smoked, nitrite cured foods: Moderate or AVOID
• Smoking Carcinogens

  Tar - Particulate matter left when water and nicotine are removed from cigarette smoke, contains hydrocarnons and other carginogenic substances; paralyzes cilia and damages alveoli
• Smoking Carcinogens

  Nicotine - Causes release of epinephrine and norepinephrine; also exerts toxic effects to endothilium
• Smoking Carcinogens

  Carbon Monoxide - May produce hypoxia of the intima and increase endothilial permeability; also decreases oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood by competing with oxygen