Early detection of cancer saves life
Cancer begins in ones cells, which are the building blocks of
ones body. Due to some various changes in cells, an abnormal growth occurs in
cell which rapidly grow, those cells are labeled as Cancerous cells Tumors can
be benign or malignant. Benign tumors are non cancerous while malignant are cancerous.
Early
detection of cancer can lead to increase in the chances for successful
treatment.
There are
two major components of early detection of cancer:
1.
Education to promote early diagnosis
2.
Screening.
Recognising possible warning signs of cancer and taking prompt action leads to early
diagnosis. Increased awareness of possible warning signs of cancer, among
physicians, nurses and other health care providers as well as among the general
public, can have a great impact on the disease. Some early signs of cancer
include lumps, sores that fail to heal, abnormal bleeding, persistent
indigestion, and chronic hoarseness. Early diagnosis is particularly relevant
for cancers of the breast, cervix, mouth, larynx, colon and rectum, and skin.
To
detect Cancer at early stage you should know general
signs and symptoms of cancer
If
you have any of these symptoms , please see a doctor to find out what’s going
on.
Unexplained
weight loss
Most
people with cancer will lose weight at some point. An unexplained weight loss
of 10 pounds or more may be the first sign of cancer. This happens most often
with cancers of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus (swallowing
tube), or lung.
Fever
Fever
is very common with cancer, but it more often happens after cancer has spread
from where it started. Almost all people with cancer will have fever at some
time, especially if the cancer or its treatment affects the immune system. Less
often, fever may be an early sign of cancer, such as blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma.
Fatigue
Fatigue
is extreme tiredness that doesn’t get better with rest. It may be an important
symptom as cancer grows. But it may happen early in some cancers, like leukemia. Some colon or stomach cancers
can cause blood loss that’s not obvious. This is another way cancer can cause
fatigue.
Pain
Pain
may be an early symptom with some cancers like bone cancers or testicular cancer. A headache that does not go
away or get better with treatment may be a symptom of a brain tumor. Back pain can be a symptom of
cancer of the colon, rectum, or ovary. But few cancers like breast cancer are
not always painful, lump in breast cancer can be felt but it’s usually painful
in most cases so it should never be avoided.
Skin
changes
Along
with skin cancers, some other cancers can cause skin changes that can
be seen. These signs and symptoms include:
Darker
looking skin (hyperpigmentation)
Yellowish
skin and eyes (jaundice)
Reddened
skin (erythema)
Itching
(pruritis)
Excessive
hair growth
Cancer
Screening?
Cancer
screening is looking for cancer before a person has any symptoms.
Screening tests
can help find cancer at
an early stage,
before symptoms
appear. When abnormal tissue or
cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat or cure.
By the time symptoms appear, the cancer may have grown and spread. This can
make the cancer harder to treat or cure.
It is
important to remember that when your doctor suggests a screening test, it does
not always mean he or she thinks you have cancer. Screening tests are done when
you have no cancer symptoms.
There
are different kinds of screening tests.
Screening
tests include the following:
Physical exam and history:
An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for
signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history
of the patient’s health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be
taken.
Laboratory tests: Medical procedures that test samples of
tissue, blood, urine,
or other substances in the body.
Imaging procedures : X-Ray, CT-SCAN & Sonography
Genetic tests: Tests that look for certain gene mutations (changes)
that are linked to some types of cancer.
Chances of developing cancer are affected by
the lifestyle choices you make.
So if
you're concerned about cancer prevention, take comfort in the fact that some
simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference. Consider these cancer
prevention tips.
1.
Don't use tobacco
Using tobacco in any form puts you on a collision
course with cancer. Smoking has been linked to various types of cancer —
including cancer of the lung, mouth, throat, larynx, pancreas, bladder, cervix
and kidney
Avoiding
tobacco — or deciding to stop using it — is one of the most important health
decisions you can make. It's also an important part of cancer prevention. If
you need help quitting tobacco, ask your doctor about stop-smoking products and
other strategies for quitting.
2.
Eat a healthy diet
Although
making healthy selections at the grocery store and at mealtime can't guarantee
cancer prevention, it might help reduce your risk. Consider these guidelines:
Eat
plenty of fruits and vegetables. Base your diet on fruits, vegetables and
other foods from plant sources — such as whole grains and beans.
3.Avoid
obesity. Eat lighter and leaner by choosing fewer high-calorie foods,
including refined sugars and fat from animal sources.
If
you choose to drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. The risk of various
types of cancer — including cancer of the breast, colon, lung, kidney and liver
— increases with the amount of alcohol you drink and the length of time you've
been drinking regularly.
4.Limit
processed meats. A report from the International Agency for Research on
Cancer, the cancer agency of the World Health Organization, concluded that
eating large amounts of processed meat can slightly increase the risk of
certain types of cancer.
In
addition, women who eat a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin
olive oil and mixed nuts might have a reduced risk of breast cancer. The
Mediterranean diet focuses on mostly on plant-based foods, such as fruits and
vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts. People who follow the Mediterranean
diet choose healthy fats, like olive oil, over butter and fish instead of red
meat. Maintain a healthy weight and be physically active
5. Maintaining
a healthy weight might lower the risk of various types of cancer, including
cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, colon and kidney.
A
deadly disease like cancer needs some special attention, it’s important to keep
a proper check of your body and if you find anything unusual you should prefer
consulting a doctor instead of assuming it as a general daily disorder, because
prevention is important than cure. Kill the disease before it decides to enter
your body.
