Prevent and detection

• Risk factors

  • heredity: mostly breast and colon cancers
  • age: over 65
  • lower socio economic status: carcinogen exposure
  • stress
  • diet: fat, salt, red meat
  • occupational risk: exposure to carcinogens
  • infections
  • tobacco and alcohol use
  • obesity and physical inactivity
  • sun exposure: skin cancer
• 7 warning signs of cancer (CAUTION)

  • Change in bowel or bladder habits
  • A sore throat that does not heal
  • Unusual bleeding or discharge
  • Thickening of lump (eg: breast)
  • Indigestion of difficulty swallowing
  • Obvious change in wart or mole
  • Nagging cough or hoarseness
• Prevention

  • reduce or eliminate carcinogen exposure
  • eat balanced diet
  • regularly participate in mild to moderate physical activity + maintain healthy weight
  • limit alcohol to due 2 drinks per day
  • practice self examination and know warning signs
  • follow cancer screening guidelines
• Cancer screening guidelines

  • breast cancer: breast examination, mammogram
  • colorectal cancer: immunochemical based fecal occult blood test
  • cervical/uterine cancer: Pap test
  • prostate cancer: PSA test
• Diagnostic tests for cancer

  • most accurate: biopsy
  • cytology studies (eg: pap test)
  • hematology and chemistry tests (eg: CBC)
  • endoscopic studies, FIT test
  • radiologic studies (CT, MRI, mammography)
  • presence of oncofetal antigen or genetic markers
  • bone marrow
  • PET scan