Cancer screening and prevention
Dr.Ammar Rasoul
Clinical Oncologist
MBChB. DMRT. MSc
ISCO,ESMO,ASCO MEMBER
We will learn to explain to family and friends:
The importance of early detection
Screening methods used in the detection
of cancer
Symptoms of cancer
Why is early detection important?
A person’s chance for a full
recovery is better if cancer is
detected and treated earlier.
The goal of early detection is to
discover and stop a cancerous
tumor before it grows and
spreads .
What is cancer screening?
Screening means checking for
cancer in a person who DOES NOT
have any
symptoms (signs) of the disease.
Medical Screening Tests are
effective tools to find cancer early.
Screening for Breast
Cancer
Mammogram:
Mammogram: a mammogram is a
special x-ray of the breast that
can often find tumors that are too
small for you or your doctor to
feel.
During the test, the breast is
compressed to spread the tissue apart
and to allow a lower dose of x-ray.
The compression is only in place a few
seconds of the examination and the
entire procedure for screening
mammography takes about 20
minutes
Breast Self Examination: the
examination of one’s own breasts
is called breast self - examination,
(BSE).
Studies so far have shown that
BSE alone reduces the number of
deaths from breast cancer.
Clinical Breast Examination:
during your routine physical
examination,your doctor or health
care professional may do a
clinical breast examination (CBE).
Screening Guidelines
A mammogram and a Clinical Breast
Exam (CBE) by a doctor or nurse every
year for women over the age40.
Between the ages of 20 and 39,
women should have a clinical breast
exam every 3 years.
All women over 20 should do breast
self- examination (BSE) every month.
Screening for Cervical
Cancer
The Test is a way to examine
cells collected from the cervix .
The main purpose of the Pap test
is to find abnormal cell changes
that may arise from cervical
cancer or before cancer develops.
Pap Test
A Pap test is simple, quick, and
painless; it can be done in a
doctor’s office, a clinic, or a
hospital.
Screening Guidelines
Cervical cancer screening should
begin approximately three years
after a woman begins having
sexual intercourse, or at 21 years
old.
Women should have a Pap test
at least once every three years.
Women 65 to 70 years of age who
have had at least three normal
Pap tests and no abnormal Pap
tests in the last 10 years may
decide, upon consultation with
their healthcare provider, to stop
cervical cancer screening.
Screening for Colorectal
Cancer
Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) -
Used to find blood in the stool
that cannot normally be seen
Barium Enema
Digital Rectal Exam
Sigmoidoscopy
Colonoscopy
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Guidelines
Screening should begin in all
people at age 50. If you are at
higher risk, screening should
begin at age 40.
The American Cancer Society recommends
one of the following screening options for
people with average risk beginning at age 50:
1. Yearly stool blood test + sigmoidoscopy
every 3-5 years OR
2. Colonoscopy every 10 years OR
3. Double contrast barium enema every 5-10
years
Screening for Prostate
Cancer
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)
* The DRE test is more effective
when used together with the PSA
test.
Prostate Specific Antigen Test (PSA)
or PSA Blood Test
Normal levels are at or below 4.0
ng/ml.
Prostate
CancerScreening
Guidelines
At age 50, talk to your doctor
about beginning annual prostate
prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
blood tests and digital rectal
exams of the prostate gland.
Self Examination/Body
Awareness
Breast Self -Exam (BSE)
Moles Exam
Physical Diagnosis -
Melanoma
Lung Cancer
Screening:
Promise and Pitfalls
What would help most
for
lung cancer?
SMOKING CESSATION
Smoking cessation helps, but
residual risk remains
Quit at age 50 ,risk by age 75 is
6%
Improved survival with early
stage disease
Mayo Lung Cancer Screening
Project
Overdiagnosis exists
CXR not effective in reducing
mortality
Low-Dose Helical CT
Allows entire chest to be surveyed
in a single breathhold
– Time: approximately 7 - 15 seconds
Narrower slice thickness
Radiation dose one tenth of
diagnostic CT
What do we see on CT?
Definition of terms
GGO (non-solid): Nodule with hazy
increased lung attenuation which
does not obscure underlying
bronchovascular markings.
Mixed (part-solid): Nodules
containing both ground glass and
solid components
Solid (soft tissue): Nodules with
attenuation obscuring the
bronchovascular structures
Downstream Effects of
CT Screening
Radiation carcinogenesis
– screening & consequent diagnostic tests:
CT, PET
Additional minimally invasive procedures
– Percutaneous Lung FNA
– Bronchoscopy
– VATS
Thoracotomy for benign disease
Summary
The most effective way to reduce smoking-
related deaths is to stop smoking.
CT screening reveals many non-calcified
nodules, the majority of which will be
benign.
We do not know if screening reduces lung
cancer mortality.
Interventions resulting from screening come
at economic, emotional, and medical cost.
Cancer prevention
Don't use tobacco
Using any type of tobacco puts you on
a collision course with cancer including
exposure to secondhand smoke.
Smoking has been linked to various
types of cancer — including cancer of
the lung, mouth, throat, larynx,
pancreas, bladder, cervix and kidney.
Eat a healthy diet
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and whole
grains.
Limit processed meats.
studies found that high-fiber diets may reduce
the risk of colon cancer.
Reduce your consumption of saturated fat and
red meat, which appears to increase the risk of
colon and prostate cancers.
And don't forget to eat fish two to three times a
week.
Get enough vitamin D. Reduce the risk of
prostate cancer and colon cancer
Avoid obesity. Stay lean.
Obesity increases the risk of
many forms of cancer.
Avoid alcohol- breast, colon,
kidney , liver, cancers of the
mouth, larynx and esophagus .
Maintain a healthy weight and be
physically active
Maintaining a healthy weight might
lower the risk of various types of
cancer, including cancer of the breast,
endometrium, prostate, lung, colon and
kidney.
At least 30 minutes of physical activity
in your daily routine.
Protect yourself from the sun
Skin cancer is one of the most
common kinds of cancer — and
one of the most preventable.
Get immunized
Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B can increase
the risk of developing liver cancer.
Human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV
is a sexually transmitted virus that
can lead to cervical and other genital
cancers as well as squamous cell
cancers of the head and neck.
Avoid risky behaviors.
Practice safe sex.
Don't share needles.
Avoid unnecessary exposure
to radiation.
Get medical imaging studies only
when you need them.
Check your home for residential
radon, which increases the risk of
lung cancer.
Avoid exposure to industrial
and environmental toxins
such as asbestos fibers,
benzene related to lung cancer,
mesothelioma, and bladder
cancer.
Pollution of air, water and soil .
Consider taking low-dose
aspirin. Men who take aspirin or
other nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs appear to
have a lower risk of colon cancer
and possibly prostate cancer.
Get regular medical care
Regular self-exams and
screenings for various types of
cancers such as cancer of the
skin, colon, cervix and breast .
