Cancer Resources

I’ve worked in the healthcare field for many years. During this time I’ve had many opportunities to talk with the doctors, nurses and technicians who work in the X-ray department that specializes in mammograms. Here is a list of the ten most important things that women should know about getting a mammogram.

1. This is the most important thing: have a yearly mammogram if you are over 40 years old or have a family history of breast cancer.
2. Go to an X-ray facility that regularly performs mammograms (at least 3-5 per day). This ensures that they have adequate experience in regularly dealing with mammograms. Ask to see their FDA certificate – this shows if they have met high quality professional standards.
3. Go to the same facility each year, if you are happy with the quality they provide. This way it is much more likely that the same people will look at your mammograms each year, and this makes comparing x-rays from prior years much more easy. If you go to a new facility, take copies of your old mammograms to the new place so they can easily compare the x-rays.
4. Medicare, Medicaid and most health insurance plans usually cover the costs of a mammogram up to a certain percentage. Low-cost mammograms are made available in some areas by the American Cancer Society.
5. Every mammogram facility must send your results to you within 30 days. If they find a problem they are to notify you within 5 days. Call your physician or the x-ray facility if you don’t get your results within these time frames. Continue reading ‘Ten Things Women Need to Know About Getting a Mammogram’ »

Colon cancer is the #2 cancer killer. Both men and women can get colon cancer, but it is more common for those over 50 years old. Regular colon testing can keep you from getting colorectal cancer, or detect it in it’s early stages when it is more easily cured. Testing may not cost you anything!

Even if you feel fine and actively pursue good health habits you are still at risk of getting colorectal cancer. Anyone over 50 should get regular colon tests.

Regular testing can help find non-cancerous colon polyps or early stage colon cancer. These are easily removed or treated.

Risk Factors

People who have a personal history of colorectal cancer or colon polyps have an elevated risk of developing colon cancer. Inflammatory bowel disease, or a family history of colon cancer or polyps are also risk factors. A family history of other cancers such as breast, ovarian or uterine cancer, may also raise your risk for colon cancer. For some unknown reason, African Americans and Ahkenazi Jews have higher rates of colorectal cancer.

Usually there are no symptoms for colon cancer in its early stages. As the cancer grows the symptoms may include rectal bleeding, stomach cramps, weight loss, tiredness or changes in bowel habits. If you have any of these symptoms you need to alert your doctor immediately to determine if colon cancer is the cause of your symptoms. Continue reading ‘Regular Colon Testing Could Save Your Life!’ »

Cancer these days are so common that there is a 50 to 75 per cent chance that someone in you family could be diagnosed with it. Cancer takes many forms and to date, there is no known cure that can completely eliminate this disease.

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that causes different types of cancers. The HPV 16 and HPV 18 cause cervical and vulval cancer. A recent study by a leading Cancer Research scientific team found a vaccine to combat against certain forms of the Human Papilomavirus.

The vaccine, known as TA-HPV was modified from a smallpox vaccine. Scientists tested the vaccine in 18 women with Vulval Intraepithelial Neoplasia (VIN), a form of vulval cancer. This form of vulval cancer is very hard to treat as the precancerous lesions appear on the lining of the vulva. Continue reading ‘Is There A Vaccine For Cancer?’ »

We have been listening from time immemorials that prevention is better than cure and it is so true as well. Till the time the medical science can offer a permanent fix to this deadly disease, the only way of fighting cancer is – prevention. But this prevention required that one is aware of the symptoms and the warning signs of cancer.

There is always a very good hope if we can detect cancer in initial stage. But it becomes really very difficult to cure the disease in the late presentations. So we should create awareness about the cancer world wide at mass scale and this alone is the way that we can fight with cancer and reduce the  number of cancer patients all across the world.

Late presentations are just because of lack of education, awareness and early diagnosis. If we are educated, aware and have facility of good healthcare where an early diagnosis can be done, we will be saved for sure. This awareness can be created in the society by telling the people about the early signs and symptoms and promoting the healthcare services. Continue reading ‘Cancer Awareness Is Pevention’ »