unexplained changes in weight
What If I Have One of These Symptoms?
These symptoms are not always a sign of cancer. They also can be caused
by less serious conditions. It's important to see a doctor if you have
symptoms because only a doctor can make a diagnosis. Don't wait to
feel pain! Early cancer usually doesn't cause pain.
Some people believe that as they age their symptoms are due to
"growing older." Because of this myth, many illnesses go
undiagnosed and untreated. Don't ignore your symptoms because you think they
are not important or because you believe they are normal for your age. Talk
to your doctor.
What Regular Tests Should I Have?
Most cancers in their earliest, most treatable stages don't cause any
symptoms or pain. That is why it's important to have regular tests to check
for cancer long before you might notice anything wrong.
Checking for cancer in a person who does not have any symptoms is called
screening. Screening may involve a physical exam, lab tests, or procedures
to look at internal organs.
Medicare now covers a number of screening tests for cancer. For details,
check with the Medicare toll-free help line at 1-800-633-4227.
Before recommending a screening test, your doctor will consider your age,
medical history, general health, family history, and lifestyle. You may want
to discuss your concerns or questions with your doctor, so that together you
can weigh the pros and cons and make an informed decision about whether to
have a screening test. If you are 50 or older, the following are some of the
cancer screening tests that you and your doctor should consider:
Mammogram.
A woman's risk of breast cancer increases with age;
about 80 % of breast cancers occur in women over age 50. A mammogram is a
special x-ray of the breast that often can find cancers that are too small
for a woman or her doctor to feel. The National Cancer Institute (NCI)
recommends that women in their 40s or older have a screening mammogram on a
regular basis, every 1 to 2 years.
Clinical Breast Exam.
During a clinical breast exam, the doctor or
other health care professional checks the breasts and underarms for lumps or
other changes that could be a sign of breast cancer.
Fecal Occult Blood Test.
Colorectal cancer is the third leading
cause of death from cancer in the U.S. The risk of developing colorectal
cancer rises after age 50. It is common in both men and women. Studies show
that a fecal occult blood test every 1 or 2 years in people between the ages
of 50 and 80 decreases the number of deaths due to colorectal cancer. For
this test, stool samples are applied to special cards, which are examined in
a lab for occult (hidden) blood.
Sigmoidoscopy.
A doctor uses a thin, flexible tube with a light
(sigmoidoscope) to look inside the colon and rectum for growths or abnormal
areas. Fewer people may die of colorectal cancer if they have regular
screening by sigmoidoscopy after age 50.
Pap Test.
The risk of cancer of the cervix (the lower, narrow part
of the uterus or womb) increases with age. Most invasive cancers of the
cervix can be prevented if women have Pap tests and pelvic exams regularly.
Older women should continue to have regular Pap tests and pelvic exams. The
doctor uses a wooden scraper or a small brush to collect a sample of cells
from the cervix and upper vagina. The cells are sent to a lab to check for
abnormalities.
Pelvic Exam.
In a pelvic exam, the doctor checks the uterus,
vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, and rectum for any changes in
their shape or size. During a pelvic exam, an instrument called a speculum
is used to widen the vagina so that the upper part of the vagina and the
cervix can be seen.
Digital Rectal Exam.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in
American men - especially older men. More than 80 % of prostate cancers
occur in men 65 and older. Research is being done to find the most reliable
screening test for prostate cancer. Scientists at the NCI are studying the
value of digital rectal exam and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in reducing
the number of deaths caused by prostate cancer. For a digital rectal exam,
the doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum and feels the prostate
gland for bumps or abnormal areas.
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA).
This test measures the amount of
PSA in the blood-stream. Higher-than-average amounts of PSA may indicate the
presence of prostate cancer cells. However, PSA levels also may be high in
men who have noncancerous prostate conditions. Scientists are studying ways
to improve the validity of the PSA test.
Skin Exam.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the
United States. Routine examination of the skin increases the chance of
finding skin cancer early.
A positive result on any of these tests doesn't mean that you have
cancer. You may need more tests. A biopsy is the only sure way to know
whether the problem is cancer. In this test, a sample of tissue is removed
from the abnormal area and examined under a microscope to check for cancer
cells.
What If I'm Told I Have Cancer?
If tests show that you have cancer, you should talk with your doctor and
make treatment decisions as soon as possible. Cancer is a disease in which
cells become abnormal and keep dividing and forming more cells without order
or control. If left untreated, cancer cells can damage nearby tissues and
organs. Cancer cells also can break away and spread to other parts of the
body. Thus, early treatment means better outcomes.
How Is Cancer Treated?
There are a number of cancer treatments, including surgery, radiation
therapy, chemo-therapy (anticancer drugs), and biological therapy (treatment
that uses the body's natural ability to fight infection and disease).
Patients with cancer often are treated by a team of specialists, which may
include a medical oncologist (specialist in cancer treatment), a surgeon, a
radiation oncologist (specialist in radiation therapy), and others. The
doctors may decide to use one type of treatment alone or a combination of
treatments. The choice of treatment depends on the type and location of the
cancer, the stage of the disease, the patient's general health, and other
factors.
Before starting treatment, you may want another doctor to review the
diagnosis and treatment plan. Some insurance companies require a second
opinion; others may pay for a second opinion if you request it.
Some cancer patients take part in studies of new treatments. These
studies - called clinical trials - are designed to find out whether a new
treatment is both safe and effective. Often, clinical trials compare a new
treatment with a standard one so that doctors can learn which is more
effective. Clinical trials offer important choices for many patients. Cancer
patients who are interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk
with their doctor.
Can Cancer Be Prevented?
Although your chances of getting cancer increase after age 50, there are
things that you can do to prevent it. About 80 % of all cancers are related
to the use of tobacco products, to what we eat and drink, or to a lesser
extent to exposure to radiation or cancer-causing agents in the environment
and the workplace. Many risk factors can be avoided:
