Cancer is medically known as a malignant neoplasm. Cancer simply involves unregulated cell growth by the dividing of cells that result in forming malignant tumors. Currently, there are over 200 different known cancers that afflict humans. Although determining what actually causes cancer is complex and difficult to explain, there are many known things and activities that increases the risk of cancer. Those people who have experienced such factors of tobacco or alcohol use, lack of physical activity, obesity, and certain infections must be extremely careful and take control of being aware of the signs and symptoms. Despite, the early detections, advanced treatments, and new studied medicines, why is this lasting disease still remains the most terminal illness.
Cancer can be detected in many ways but it takes people to become more informative and considered about the disease, its causes, signs, and symptoms. After cancer is detected, the chances of successfully treated and surviving the disease depends greatly on the type and area the cancer is located and how extensive the cancer is at the time of treatment. Cancer can affect all ages of people but fewer are common in children and the risk increases with age. It has been researched that number of deaths due to cancer is increasing. To be able to control this lasting disease, people must be willing to learn of the disease and be responsible in living a better lifestyle.
There are various types of cancer to explore. The most common is breast, colorectal, cervical, lung, prostate & Endometrial (uterine) cancers. Although all different, these cancers still have common causes, common signs and common results.
Breast cancer
• At age 40, yearly mammograms are recommended for as long as a woman is in good health
• At ages 20 and 30, clinical breast exam (CBE) about every 3 years for women
• Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care provider. Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s.
Colorectal cancer
• At age 50, both men and women should follow one of these testing schedules:
Tests that find polyps and cancer
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years*, or
• Colonoscopy every 10 years, or
• Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years*, or
• CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years*
• Stool DNA test (sDNA)***
Cervical cancer
• At age 21, cervical cancer screening (testing)
• Ages 21-29, women should have a Pap test every 3 years.
• Ages 30-65, women should have a Pap test plus an HPV test (called “co-testing”) every 5 years.
• Over 65 years of age, women who have had regular cervical cancer testing with normal results should not be tested for cervical cancer. Once testing is stopped, it should not be started again. Women with a history of a serious cervical pre-cancer should continue to be tested for at least 20 years after that diagnosis, even if testing continues past age 65.
Endometrial (uterine) cancer
• At the time of menopause, all women should be told about the risks and symptoms of endometrial cancer.
Lung cancer
• No recommendations for people who are at average risk of this disease. However, people should have screening if they are at high risk of lung cancer due to cigarette smoking.
Prostate cancer
• Starting at age 50, men should talk to a doctor about the pros and cons of testing
• Starting at age 45, men that are African American or have a father or brother who had prostate cancer before age 65 should have this talk with a doctor
It is very important to understand and know the signs and symptoms of cancer as they are both signals of the disease or the fact that something is not properly functioning in the body. While cancer is a group of diseases, it may cause any signs or symptoms. However, these specific signs or symptoms are dependent on the location of the cancer, the size
