Screening Tests
Cancer screening tests are used to find cancer or precancerous lesions in ‘healthy’ people who do not have any symptoms. Screening tests do not prevent and do not cause cancer, the only thing they do is finding the cancer as early as possible. It is very important to detect the cancer in early stages, because only then you can cure cancer. There isn’t a test for all kinds of cancer because cancer includes many different diseases. You and your doctor, based on your risk factors have to decide what screening tests do you need and when is the best moment to start taking them. You should know that a negative result means you don’t have cancer in that moment, but it doesn’t mean you will never have cancer.Unfortunately, sometimes a screening test gives you a wrong answer. That means a “false positive” result or a “false negative” result. A ‘false positive’ result is when the screening test says you may have cancer, but in fact you don’t. As well as causing unnecessary anxiety for you, it costs money because all the people with a false positive result have to undergo extra tests for no gain. ‘False negative’ results are even more important because you may be reassured that you don’t have cancer, when in fact you do. This can cause people to ignore signs that they would have acted on. A good screening test is tested many years, on large groups of persons, so, the false results are very rare.
Only your doctor can decide what screening tests you need. I recommend the following tests:
• A full body exam is recommended every three years for people 20-40 years of age and every year for those over 40 years. The purpose of the exam is to check the entire body for overall health and possible warning signs for cancer.
• A breast self-exam every month for women 18 years and older.
• Starting at age 20, a clinical breast exam should be performed every three years. After age 40, this exam should be done yearly.
• A mammogram should be performed every 2 years beginning at age 40. Frequency should be yearly after age 50.
• At the onset of sexual activity or the age of 18, whichever comes first, women should begin yearly Pap tests. I recommend a Pap test every six months for women sexually active.
• Beginning at age 50, men and women should have a digital rectal exam every year.
• Also beginning at age 50, a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) should be performed annually.
• Every five years, from age 50 on, a sigmoidoscopy should be performed.
• Men aged 50 and over should have a yearly digital rectal exam and prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing.
• Men aged 20 and over should perform a testicular self-exam regularly.
Remember, screening tests will not protect you from cancer, but you will have to deal with a little problem instead of a big problem.
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