Dr. Crystal Owens, MD, MPH,
Chief Medical Officer, CHCS
Relay for Life began in the USA in May 1985 when colorectal surgeon, Dr. Gordy Klatt, wanted to raise awareness of cancer and boost the income of his local cancer charity. Charitable organizations and events like Relay for Life keep the world turning for families affected by illness such as cancer. … They also raise awareness about the struggle of fighting cancer, which is essential to ending the fight. About 16 percent gets spent on fundraising and 3 percent goes toward management and overhead costs, the society says in promotional materials. Among annual achievements the nonprofit attributes specifically to Relay for Life funding: Helped answer 1 million requests for cancer information.
I have participated in Relay for Life Cancer Awareness Fundraiser over the past 15 years. Money raised from Relay for Life goes to support those who are faced with the challenges of a cancer diagnosis. At Christmas time my Masonic organization donated bicycles, toys, and food to a mother, diagnosed with End Staged Breast cancer, with two young children. One week after dropping off the donation, the mother died leaving her two children. Cancer research is important to help save lives that are needlessly taken by terminal cancer. Take the time to reach out to help someone by giving your time or a donation.
It is important to for everyone to stay current with recommended cancer screening guidelines for your age and gender. Take the opportunity to get screened, exercise regularly, and eat healthy to lower your risk of cancer.
American Cancer Society Recommendations for the Early Detection of Cancer in Average-Risk Asymptomatic Adults*
CANCER TYPE POPULATION TEST OR PROCEDURE
Breast women 40-45 years Mammography
RECOMMENDATION:
Women should undergo regular screening mammography starting at 45 years of age; women 45 to 54 years of age should be screened annually; women should have the opportunity to begin annual screening between 40 and 44 years of age
CANCER TYPE POPULATION TEST OR PROCEDURE
Breast women, 55 years or older Mammography
RECOMMENDATION:
Women 55 years or older should transition to biennial screening or have the opportunity to continue screening annually; women should continue screening mammography as long as their overall health is good and they have a life expectancy of 10 years or more
CANCER TYPE POPULATION TEST OR PROCEDURE
Cervical women 21-29 years Pap Test
RECOMMENDATION:
Cervical cancer screening should begin at 21 years of age; for women 21 to 29 years of age, screening should be done every three years with conventional or liquid-based Pap tests
CANCER TYPE POPULATION TEST OR PROCEDURE
Cervical women 30-65 Pap and HPV DNA Test
RECOMMENDATION:
For women 30 to 65 years of age, screening should be done every five years with both the HPV test and the Pap test (preferred) or every three years with the Pap test alone (acceptable)
CANCER TYPE POPULATION TEST OR PROCEDURE
Cervical women 66 and older Pap and HPV DNA Test
RECOMMENDATION:
Women 66 years or older who have had three or more consecutive negative Pap tests or two or more consecutive negative HPV and Pap tests within the past 10 years, with the most recent test occurring in the previous five years, should stop cervical cancer screening
Women who have had a total hysterectomy should stop cervical cancer screening
CANCER TYPE POPULATION TEST OR PROCEDURE
Colorectal men and women 50 or older all tests listed
*Guaiac-based FOBT with at least 50% sensitivity for cancer, or fecal immunochemical test with at least 50% sensitivity for cancer or
Annual: Testing stool sampled from regular bowel movements with adherence to manufacturer’s recommendation for collection techniques and number of samples is recommended; FOBT with the single stool sample collected on the clinician’s fingertip during a digital rectal examination is not recommended; “throw in the toilet bowl” FOBTs also are not recommended; compared with guaiac-based tests for the detection of occult blood, immunochemical tests are more patient-friendly and are likely to be equal or better in sensitivity and specificity; there is no justification for repeating FOBT in response to an initial positive finding; patients should be referred for colonoscopy
*Multitarget stool DNA test†
OR Flexible sigmoidoscopy† Every three years, per manufacturer’s recommendation
OR Every five years, flexible sigmoidoscopy can be performed alone, or consideration can be given to combining flexible sigmoidoscopy performed every five years with a highly sensitive FOBT or fecal immunochemical test performed annually
OR Double-contrast barium enema†
OR Colonoscopy every 5 years
OR Every 10 years
CT colonography† Every five years
CANCER TYPE POPULATION
Endometrial women at menopause
RECOMMENDATION:
At the time of menopause, women should be informed about risks and symptoms of endometrial cancer and strongly encouraged to report any unexpected bleeding or spotting to their physicians
CANCER TYPE POPULATION
Lung Current or former smokers 55 to 74 years of age in good health with at least a 30 pack-year history
Test:
Low-dose helical CT
RECOMMENDATION:
Clinicians with access to high-volume, high-quality lung cancer screening and treatment centers should initiate a discussion about annual lung cancer screening with apparently healthy patients 55 to 74 years of age who have at least a 30 pack-year smoking history and who currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years; a process of informed and shared decision making with a clinician related to the potential benefits, limitations, and harms associated with screening for lung cancer with low-dose CT should occur before any decision is made to initiate lung cancer screening; smoking-cessation counseling remains a high priority for clinical attention in discussions with current smokers, who should be informed of their continuing risk of lung cancer; screening should not be viewed as an alternative to smoking cessation
CANCER TYPE POPULATION TEST OR PROCEDURE
Prostate Men-50 and older Prostate-specific antigen test with or without digital rectal examination
RECOMMENDATION:
Men who have at least a 10-year life expectancy should have an opportunity to make an informed decision with their clinician about whether to be screened for prostate cancer after receiving information about the potential benefits, risks, and uncertainties associated with prostate cancer screening; prostate cancer screening should not occur without an informed decision-making process
Statistics at a Glance: The Burden of Cancer in the United States
•In 2018, an estimated 1,735,350 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and 609,640 people will die from the disease.
•The most common cancers (listed in descending order according to estimated new cases in 2018) are breast cancer, lung and bronchus cancer, prostate cancer, colon and rectum cancer, melanoma of the skin, bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, kidney and renal pelvis cancer, endometrial cancer, leukemia, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, and liver cancer.
The Anti-Cancer Diet: Foods That Prevent Cancer
1. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. …
2. Sip green tea throughout your day. …
3. Eat more tomatoes. …
4. Use olive oil. …
5. Snack on grapes. …
6. Use garlic and onions abundantly. …
7. Eat fish.
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