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Posts with tag screening
Posted Sep 13th 2007 2:13PM by Brian White
Filed under: Prostate Cancer
In Canada, health officials are wanting more men in the high-risk group (most likely, middle aged) to
get screened for prostate cancer. Why? Well, only two in every five men in that country from within that group apparently have tested for prostate cancer in the past year. That's just too low.
An astounding 39 percent (only) of men over the age of 45 have taken blood tests to measure the prostate specific antigen levels, with only 33 percent having undergone a digital rectal exam.
In other words, there could be a lot more undiagnosed prostate problems under development with such a low amount of high-risk men being tested.
Posted Sep 13th 2007 11:11AM by Brian White
Filed under: Lung Cancer
Lung cancer screening by using CT scans may not be the best thing to do, according to a recent report by the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP).
That group stated that,
outside of research studies, studying lung cancer using CT technology is not worth the risk since it rarely (if at all) leads to reduced lung cancer deaths.
The reason? Sounds to easy, but with CT tests only looking at lung cancer detection, actual survival rates were not looked at in many cases (and weren't affected anyway).
Posted Aug 29th 2007 7:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: All Cancers, Diets, Obesity
As time flies by, more and more progress is made in the fight against cancer. Over the years, new and better screening methods have emerged, cutting-edge technologies have surfaced, successful treatments have saved lives that may have otherwise been lost, and awareness has been raised about all sorts of cancer-related issues. It's amazing really, because in so many areas, we are not making progress.
According to research published in the March/April 2007 issue of
WebMD: the Magazine, the per capita consumption of corn sweeteners in 2004 was 78.1 pounds in the United States -- up from 35.3 pounds in 1980. In 2005, the per capita consumption of candy by Americans was 25.7 pounds. We are pumping our bodies full of junk -- our rates of obesity in this country prove it.
When I think about our trend of over-eating and over-indulging, I gain a better appreciation of how far we've come medically. Not only have researchers, scientists, and medical experts made strides in the prevention and treatment of disease, they've done it against the odds. Just think how much more progress we'd make if we all did a little better at living healthy lives. Why not start now?
Posted Aug 24th 2007 7:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Books
She's the guru on breast cancer, the woman who writes the continually updated breast cancer bible. She's Dr. Susan Love, author of
Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book, and in the May/June 2007 issue of
MAMM magazine, she shares some of her latest thoughts.
On milk ductsDr. Love says all breast cancer begins in the milk ducts. If we want to get rid of breast cancer, she says, we need to understand where it starts. Until recently, we weren't able to do that. Now, doctors can numb the nipple, thread a catheter into a milk duct and sample the fluid, cells, carcinogens, and hormones. By looking at the location where cancer develops, there's the potential to find out how it started and how to prevent it. In March, Dr. Love's
Research Foundation sponsored a conference on this topic.
On MRIDr. Love is not a big fan of MRI. It's overly sensitive and finds everything -- most of which is not cancer, she says. MRI leads women on wild goose chases so Dr. Love likes to reserve this test for women at high-risk.
Continue reading What Dr. Susan Love thinks
Posted Aug 20th 2007 6:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Prevention, Thought for the Day
Just recently, European researchers announced that MRI scans offer a new way to detect breast cancer in its earliest form. They can even prevent cancer among high-risk women.
Better than standard mammograms, MRI can detect a nonmalignant tumor called ductal carcinoma in-situ, or DCIS. Once found, the lesion can be surgically removed before it becomes cancerous.
Think about this: It is believed that almost all breast cancer starts out as DCIS. And this: if MRI were the gold standard breast cancer screening tool, we might be able to prevent a lot more breast cancer cases than we do now. It seems researchers agree.
Continue reading Thought for the Day: MRI as a gold standard
Posted Aug 17th 2007 10:16AM by Martha Edwards
Filed under: Oral Cancer, Research
Testing for oral cancer just got much easier --
a new method of testing for the disease will soon be available. The testing method can be done in a medical office and uses lab-on-a-chip microfluidic technology to determine a diagnosis. Furthermore, the test is fully automated and can be completed in a mere 10 minutes.
The test was developed at researchers at the University of Texas (Austin) with funding from the NIH. Here's how it works: Cells from the mouth are mixed with fluorescent marker proteins, illuminating any suspicious cells. Pretty ingenious, if you ask me. Now if we could only make other cancer screening as painless and quick ...
Posted Aug 17th 2007 7:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Services
Ever wonder where your money goes when you make a charitable cancer contribution? Well, here's the lowdown on how the
Susan G. Komen Foundation spends their donated funds.
For 25 years, this world's largest and most progressive grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists has allocated 33 percent of all dollars for research and awards, and 29 percent for education. Fifteen percent of donations are spent on screening, eight percent on fundraising, and eight percent on administration. Finally, seven percent goes towards treatment.
Komen professionals say they are extremely careful about how they spend the dollars entrusted to their care. And that makes me happy.
Posted Aug 16th 2007 9:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Pink products, Cancer events, Products
I AM THE CURE is the Susan G. Komen new rallying cry. Intended to urge us to take an active role in our own breast health and remind us that we all play an important part in finding a cure, these are words to live by. I think I won't soon forget them -- because I have a new key chain inscribed with all four of them.
My aunt just participated in the Aspen Race for the Cure, and she sent me all the goodies she picked up at the race. She gave me the
Ford Warriors in Pink scarf -- I've always wanted one and can't wait to wear it on October 20 when I run in my local
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event. She also passed on to me a race t-shirt, the sign she wore on her back --
in celebration of my beautiful niece Jacki, it read -- and pink ribbon magnets, sunscreen, a Warriors in Pink temporary tattoo, and all sorts of other little trinkets. The key chain was one of them.
My new key chain features four different sized pink metal circles, each one dangling from the key ring. On each circle, there is one word. From the smallest circle to the largest, the words I -- AM -- THE -- CURE appear. All on their own, these circles are pretty powerful. But there's more. On an insert that came with the key chain is an explanation for each circle.
Continue reading I AM THE CURE is new Susan G. Komen battle cry
Posted Jul 29th 2007 8:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Prevention, Sunday Seven
OK, women of the world. Grab some paper and a pen and jot down this list of seven check-ups every woman needs. Don't just write them down, though. Make sure you take action on each and every one. They might just save your life.
1. Start with your weight, height, and BMI (body mass index). The scores you get on these simple tests are important because many conditions and diseases are associated with being overweight or underweight.
2. Check your blood pressure, and find out where you stand because hypertension is a disease with no symptoms. High blood pressure puts you at risk for
cardiovascular disease -- but there are very effective treatments for this condition.
Continue reading Sunday Seven: Seven check-ups every woman needs
Posted Jul 23rd 2007 11:30AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Colon and Rectal Cancer, Politics, Daily news
President Bush is keeping up with his colon cancer screenings. Good thing -- because five small growths were found and removed during his latest scan on Saturday.
The polyps found inside his large intestine were all less than one centimeter in size and did not appear suspicious. Still, they were sent to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., to be microscopically examined for signs of cancer. Polyps can turn into cancer, so finding them early is the best way to prevent the disease and improve the odds of surviving it. It takes 48 to 72 hours for pathology reports to come back, but the majority of polyps this size are unlikely to be cancerous.
Bush is no stranger to polyps. In 1998, after a similar scan, two polyps were found. In 1999, two more surfaced. And while none were found during his 2002 screening, he has become a prime candidate for regular examinations. For the general population, colonoscopy tests are recommended every 10 years.
Continue reading President Bush has five polyps removed from colon
Posted Jul 2nd 2007 6:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Prevention, Thought for the Day
Getting screened for cancer is smart. Yearly mammograms for women older than 40, prostate exams for men older than 50, and skin cancer screenings for just about everyone are just a few of the recommended measures individuals can take to ensure cancer stays away -- or at least is caught in its earliest forms.
But aside from merely submitting to these screenings, there's something we can do to increase our screening smarts. We can stick with the same screening centers and not flip-flop from one location to another.
It's a bad idea to report to a different screening center every year. Being able to compare a current mammogram, for example, with prior images can decrease false alarms by as much as 44 percent. As with much of life, consistency is key. Think about it. When we find that perfect hairstylist, we're sold -- and heartbroken when he or she moves on and we have to start from scratch. A trustworthy car mechanic who knows our car inside and out? Don't dare let him leave town. The most loving child care facility? The search is over, and we pray our kids don't get kicked out. Screening is no different really. So make this your mission: find a good thing and don't stray. Of course, don't linger at locations that make you uncomfortable for any reason. Search until you find happiness. Then stay put.
Source:
Woman's Day, May 8, 2007
Posted Jun 29th 2007 1:15PM by Martha Edwards
Filed under: All Cancers, Opinion
In this age of technology we live in, it seems like all we need to survive is an Internet connection. We can use the web to buy clothes, buy groceries, order dinner, work, do our banking, pay our bills ... the list goes on. The only things we need to leave the house for are visits to the doctor, dentist, hair dresser and so on. Wait, cross going to doctor off the list. You can do that online now too.
What I'm referring to here is
Health Check USA, which allows you to screen yourself for a number of things, including cancer, over the Internet. Once you've ordered a test, you'll receive a package in the mail with instructions on how to collect the necessary samples. Once that's done, you send it back and will receive your results over the phone. Sounds simple, huh? Maybe, but I still think visiting your doctor is of the utmost importance.
What do you think? Will you be ordering a test any time soon?
Posted Jun 25th 2007 1:25PM by Vicki Blankenship
Filed under: Colon and Rectal Cancer, Prevention, All Cancers, Research
Is the cancer in your family inherited? Some families experience large amounts of cancer and whether it is environmental, every day living habits, or genetics are all factors that should be looked into. Genetic testing, usually performed with a blood sample, may provide information about you and an increased risk for cancer because of family genetics.
For instance, nearly everyone born with familial adenomatous polyposis (the genetic predisposition to colon cancer) develops the disease by age 40 if preventive surgery isn't done. Knowing this early can aid in prevention and early detection. Talk with your doctor about genetic counseling. A Genetic Counselor provides individuals and families with information on the nature, inheritance, and implications of genetic disorders to help them make informed medical and personal decisions. Genetic counselors often work in clinics with oncologists or gastroenterologists and focus on cancer risk.
Posted Jun 25th 2007 9:17AM by Martha Edwards
Filed under: All Cancers, Environment, Diets, Cancer prevention foods, Smoking
Unless you've been touched by it, cancer can seem a world away. But it's not, and no matter your age, there are steps you should be taking to avoid getting cancer.
My Doc Hub has compiled
this list of thing you should be doing now to avoid getting cancer in the future. They are:
-Maintain a healthy weight
-Exercise regularly
-Don't smoke
-Eat healthy
-Cut your alcohol consumption
-Cover up in the sun
-Don't have unprotected sex
-Compile a medical and family history
-Talk to your doctor about risk factors and getting screened
If you're not doing these things right now, there's no time like the present.
Posted Jun 20th 2007 7:45PM by Kristina Collins
Filed under: Skin Cancer, Melanoma, Prevention
A new website assesses the effectiveness and safety of almost 800 sunscreens. The suncreen screening site was put together by the Environmental Working Group and gives detailed information about many sunscreen products. It also groups them by the types of harmful rays they're meant to protect against.
SPF numbers on sunscreens only cover UVB, the type of rays most responsible for burns. UVA is far less responsible for burning, but still can raise skin cancer risk. Only one sunscreen in five has effective UVA protection. There are ingredients that protect well against UVA, but sunlight can break down and make them ineffective if they are not formulated well.
Watch out for the commonly misleading claims -- all day protection, waterproof or chemical free products. You can check the website for sunscreens that are recommended and ones to be avoided.
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