Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How prevalent is cancer in America and at what age are most people diagnosed?

A. One in two men and one out of every three American women will have some type of cancer during their lifetime. It is second only to heart disease, as the leading cause of mortality in Americans.

Although cancer can strike at any age, people 55 and older are diagnosed with about 77% of all cancers. About half the cancers are not detectable with screening, while another 50% can be discovered early with screening at a cancer treatment clinic.  It is important for us to do what we can to control our health.

Q. How does cancer screening make a difference?

A. The cancers that can be found with screening are breast, colon, rectum, cervix, prostate, testis, oral cavity and skin cancer. The current five year survival rate for these cancers is about 81%. If all of these cancers were diagnosed at a localized stage through regular cancer screenings, this rate would increase to 95%.

Q. Are we getting better at screening for cancer?

A. Colon cancer cases have dropped since the primary care physicians are encouraging people to have a baseline colonoscopy at age 50 at a colon cancer treatment clinic. Almost all colon cancers develop from polyps that can be safely removed with colonoscopy long before they develop into cancers. If there is a family history of polyps, colon cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, they are encouraged to have a colonoscopy at an earlier age.

Cancer of the cervix has fallen since the 1940s with the advent of pap smears, which are suggested for all women beginning at age 18. If a woman has had normal exams for 3 years, then a pap smear is required every 2 years. After a hysterectomy, or after age 70, screening may no longer be necessary.

Although smoking is a significant risk factor, cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus. A vaccine against this virus, Gardisil, was made available in June 2006 which may lead to a 70% reduction in cervix cancer incidence and can be obtained through a cancer treatment clinic.

Q. How successful is screening for breast cancer, the most common malignant cancer in women?

A. Breast Cancer Survival is increased when it is detected early from a monthly self-examination. Clinical breast exams should be performed annually beginning at age 20. A baseline mammogram should be done at age 35 with an annual mammography starting at age 40 offered at Southlake Oncology breast cancer treatment center.

Risk factors include increasing age, Caucasian race, higher socioeconomic status, estrogen use, alcohol consumption, a high fat diet, obesity, family history, and prior breast biopsies.

Q. Who should be screened for heredity cancer syndromes?

A. Screenings are typically done by an oncologist on individuals with very strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer, male breast cancer, or any breast cancer under the age of 40.

Q. What is the most common cancer in men?

A. Prostate cancer, which has a high survival rate. Since the risk increases at the age of 50, a PSA blood test and digital exam (DRE) annually is important. For African American men or those with a family history, the screening should begin at age 40 or earlier.

Q. In general, how can one decrease the chance of developing cancer?