Preventive Cancer Care

But, it is not an incurable disease. Cancer, if caught early, can be treated at a fraction of the cost of aggressive treatment methods. One way to catch cancer early is to opt for regular screening tests. Most forms of screening can find cancer before patients notice symptoms. Regular screening tests can help detect breast, colon, cervical, and lung cancer. People over the age of 20 should have regular health check-ups for oral, skin, thyroid, ovarian, and lymph node cancers.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer usually presents with symptoms such as a lump in the breast, a change in the shape of the breast, a dimpling of the skin, or swollen lymph nodes. Besides, mammograms can also pick up ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which can become invasive cancer in some women. Women over 40 are recommended to have a mammogram every 1 or 2 years. Women under the age of 40 who have a risk factor for breast cancer should consult their healthcare provider.

Cervical cancer

The most common cause of cervical cancer is the presence of the HPV virus. Frequent HPV tests can detect the HPV virus early. HPV vaccination is usually recommended for girls and women aged 11-26. Besides the HPV test, the PVP test can also find abnormal cells that can turn cancerous. Health professionals usually recommend that women over the age of 30 get tested for HPV and PVP every 3 years.

Colorectal cancer

Precancerous polyps can be detected by screening tests. If such polyps are found, they can be removed before they turn cancerous. Doctors often recommend starting screening as soon as a person turns 50. Besides, other accepted screening tests for colorectal cancer are the FOBT test, stool DNA test, sigmoidoscopy, virtual colonoscopy, and standard colonoscopy.

Lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Indian men. People who have smoked in the past (1 pack a day), have smoked now, or have stopped smoking in the past 15 years have a higher risk of lung cancer. Currently, the only recommended screening test for lung cancer is low-dose computed tomography (LDCT). Doctors recommend that people who are at a higher risk of lung cancer and are aged 55-80 get an annual lung cancer screening.