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Cancer Preventions
Cancer screening is testing done on people who may be at risk of getting cancer, but who have no symptoms and generally feel fine. Cancer screening tests are not meant to diagnose cancer. Instead, they help figure out which people are more likely to have cancer or get cancer in the future.
Complete a cancer risk assessment and get your personalized risk assessment now.
Colon Cancer Screening
The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is a screening test for people at average risk of getting colorectal cancer. This is a simple stool test kit that is sent directly to your mailbox. Once you follow the instructions, you put everything back into the envelope provided, and drop it into your mailbox. Colorectal cancer screening increases the chance of finding cancer early when it is more likely to be cured. When colorectal cancer is caught early, 9 out of 10 people can be cured. Someone is at average risk if they are 50 to 74 years old with no first-degree relative (parent, brother, sister or child) who has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Someone is at increased risk if they have a family history of colorectal cancer that includes 1 or more first-degree relatives (parent, brother, sister or child) with the disease.
Mammogram
A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast that can find abnormal changes in the breast, even when they may be too small to feel or see. Mammography uses a low dose of radiation. The benefits of screening and finding cancer early are more important than potential harm from the X-ray. Getting screened regularly with mammography is important because it can find cancer early when it is less likely to have spread to other parts of the body. Treatment may also have a better chance of working when breast cancer is found early. The whole appointment usually lasts about 15 minutes. Canadian screening guidelines recommend a mammogram every two years for women who are between the ages of 50 and 74 years. If you are between those ages and have not received a mammogram within the last 2 years, please contact your family doctor.
Pap Test
Cervical cancer starts in the cells of the cervix. The cervix is part of the female reproductive system. It is the lower, narrow end of the uterus. Pap tests check for cervical cell changes. Cervical cancer can sometimes be prevented by following these cell changes closely and treating them if necessary. Regular screening with Pap tests means there is a better chance of finding pre-cancerous cell changes so they can be treated and likely cured before cancer has a chance to develop. Be sure to go for regular Pap tests, and for follow-up testing if your Pap test result is abnormal. Compared with other cancers, cervical cancer is more common in younger women, with the highest rate occurring in women ages 40 to 59. It is recommended that women aged 21 to 70 year of age have a Pap screening every 3 years. If you have had an abnormal pap, discuss with your physician the timing of a repeat Pap.
Prostate Screening
A digital rectal exam and a PSA blood draw is how we screen for this type of cancer. Typically, if an initial digital rectal exam comes back with abnormal results, the next step would be a PSA blood test followed by an imaging test of the prostate gland. Should your PSA levels be high, a prostate biopsy may be recommended as a follow up to the screening. If prostate cancer is found on a biopsy, this test can also help tell how likely it is that the cancer will grow and spread quickly. Prostate Cancer is rated forth on the list of most common cancers in Canada. One man in nine will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. In many cases, prostate cancer is a slow-growing cancer that does not spread beyond the prostate gland before the time of diagnosis. However, some cases are more aggressive and need more urgent treatment. Prostate cancer that is detected early, when it is still confined to the prostate gland, has the best chance for successful treatment.
A PSA (prostate specific antigen) test can be performed as part of early detection screening. Visit Lifelabs.com for more information.
Lifelabs - Prostate Cancer Facts
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer starts in the cells of the lung. A cancerous (malignant) tumor is a group of cancer cells that can grow into and destroy nearby tissue. It can also spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. When cancer starts in lung cells, it is called primary lung cancer.
The lung is part of the respiratory system. You use your lungs when you breathe. The lungs are in the chest, one on each side of the heart. The right lung has 3 main parts, called lobes. The left lung is a bit smaller and has 2 lobes. The lungs are cushioned and protected by a thin covering called the pleura.
Non-Melanoma & Melanoma
Non-Melanoma: Cells in the skin sometimes change and no longer grow or behave normally. These changes may lead to non-cancerous (benign) growths such as dermatofibromas, moles, skin tags and warts. Changes to cells of the skin can also cause precancerous conditions. This means that the abnormal cells are not yet cancer, but there is a chance that they may become cancer if they aren’t treated. A precancerous condition of the skin is actinic keratosis.
Melanoma: Melanocytes make melanin. Melanocytes can group together and form moles on the skin. They appear as bumps or spots that are usually brown or pink. Most people have a few moles. Moles are non-cancerous (benign) tumors.
But in some cases, changes to melanocytes can cause melanoma skin cancer. A change in the colour, size or shape of a mole is usually the first sign of melanoma skin cancer. There are 4 main types of melanoma skin cancer. Superficial spreading melanoma is the most common type. The other types are nodular melanoma, lentigo maligna melanoma and acral lentiginous melanoma.
