Effective cancer screening methods are used to detect or identify the presence of a specific cancer before the individual displays any symptoms of cancer. Early detection of a cancer through screening can save the life of a person who may have died without screening detection. Early detection of cancer can also provide a less costly and more effective treatment than if the cancer progresses requiring more advanced or drastic treatment. Screenings tests for the more common cancers such as breast, colon, prostate or cervical can be non-invasive or only slightly invasive. The majority of screening procedures are non-invasive which is more cost effective, patient convenient, and does not require any patient aftercare. Screening tests usually have a recommended age and frequency. As people age there is a higher risk of cancer and more screening is recommended. There are some considerations on whether to screen or not to screen such as; is the cancer common or fatal, are there detectable symptoms, and how reliable are the test results (Bast, 2000).
There are currently two slightly invasive screening tests used to detect prostate cancer. They are the digital rectal exam (DRE) and the prostate-specific antigen blood test (PSA). The DRE is a quick exam that can check the prostates health. A doctor inserts a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum to feel the back portion of the prostate for size, irregularity or abnormal areas. DRE is the only method in which a physician can physically examine the prostate gland. If a doctor does find an irregularity the conclusion is not necessarily prostate cancer, but a reason to pursue diagnosis (Bast, 2000).
“Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by cells of the prostate g...
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...te posts coated with antibodies that bind to tumor cells. When blood passes across the chip, cancer cells stick and stains make them glow for easy detection” (Prostate.net, n.d.). This blood test could possibly eliminate tissue sampling and imaging scans (Prostate.net, n.d.). EN2 is a new prostate cancer test measuring the EN2 protein in urine. “The study found that testing for the protein could accurately identify 66% of men with prostate cancer, and correctly rule out the disease in almost 90% of men without the disease” (National Health Service, 2011). The cases of prostate cancer were confirmed with a biopsy. The University of Surrey, UK studies confirmed that “even if the EN2 test performs well in larger scale testing, the test would not necessarily replace PSA testing” (National Health Service, 2011) but could be used with PSA (National Health Service, 2011)
Note that the introduction of screening may produce short-term rises (AIHW, Cancer incidence projections) due to greater detection.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common ailments that affect aging men. Statistics show that more than half of the entire male population aged 65 have some form of BPH, while about 90 percent of men aged 85 have the condition. Every year, in the United States alone, about a quarter of a million surgeries are performed to correct BPH. As they name implies, BPH is a non-malignant growth of the prostate, the gland that secretes semen, the fluid that transports sperm. Although not harmful, BPH can bring about symptoms that could largely affect the quality of life of its sufferers.
As the author highlighted in this book, the quickest way to be diagnosed for prostate cancer is to be screened for it; the same notion applies for many other diseases and illness. With the advent of the technological age, doctors are now able to see more than they did before, and therefore, are more quick to diagnose illnesses and cancers early. As Welch explains, the problem with that is that not all illness or cancers will kill you; some cancers will stick around, but never cause any harm. So, this leads to screening for cancers that were never going to kill a patient, that end up being detected early on and dealt with, thus giving credit to early screening as a success story. As Welch explains, most illnesses and injuries that undertake a natural course of events, without medical intervention, usually heal on their own. This is problematic because it creates this idea that medical intervention is helpful and necessary, when that is not always the case. In general, as a society, the benefits of medical care have been over-exaggerated, while the harms of medical care have been largely ignored. If Welchs’ instructions were followed, a closer examination of the effect of screenings and tests would be the new medical
...(CBC), Activated Partial Thrombo Plastin Time (APTT) Test, Prothombin Time (PT) Test, and Fibrinogen Test”.
Prostate cancer has been the number one diagnosed cancer today. According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in every ten American men will develop prostate cancer during his lifespan. This cancer has been very common in the last few years. American Cancer Society reported over 200,000 new cases of prostate cancer. Huge number of population suffered severely. The prostate is significant for reproduction. It helps the substances that are involved in fertilization and transporting of sperm as well as survival. Prostate tumor is developed in the prostate gland, which is found in the men’s reproductive system. Prostate is the size of a walnut, which is located inferiorly in the penis and anterior to the rectum. It contains the connective tissue, which includes the glandular and fibrous tissues. This tumor starts to develop during their adolescent year due to the control of the male reproductive hormones. When the tumor starts to develop, it begins at the urethra, which is a tube that releases the urine from the bladder. The tumor is a slow development yet it is contagious to the other parts of the body, such as it does affect the pelvic bones, lungs, liver, and the lower vertebrae (Zenka, 2009).
Mantoux PPD skin test; two is a Chest X-ray which is given after the Skin test
Colon cancer develops in the part of the gastrointestinal tract that absorbs water and minerals before waste products are disposed via the rectum. In women endometrial cancer is related to colon cancer. This type of cancer is the second leading cause of death due to cancer in the United States. Over one-hundred fifty thousand individuals will be diagnosed this year and this cancer will probably be responsible for about 47,900 deaths in 1999 (http://www.cancer.org). Most colon cancers are adenocarcinomas that develop from the glandular cells. Ninety percent of all colon cancer cases will develop in individuals after 50 years of age. Ninety percent of all tumors arise from polyps that are commonly found in people older than 50. Prevention includes regular exercise and a diet high in fiber. The most important risk factor is age. Medical screening includes a yearly blood occult test after age 50 and a colonoscopy every 3 years after age 50. Regular screening detects polyps that have become precancerous. If regular screening is not done, the cancer is not detected until blood is found in the...
One half of men and one third of women will get cancer in their lifetime. ½ million people are going to die this year, that’s more than 1,500 people per day! One in eight deaths in the world is due to cancer. Cancer causes more deaths than AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. Cancer is a disease that’s preventable, curable, and deadly.
The oncologist (cancer specialist) have discovered some solutions to against those cancer. Prevention and treatment. Prevention means patient can discovered their cancer in an early stage by doing a various diagnosis to detect the present of a tumour in our body. The routine self-exam or screening measures eventually also can detect some cancer that in an ...
Universal Screening: It is designed to identify which students could be struggling with reading skills. The screening assessments are administered to all students in the class. They are valid, reliable, and demonstrate diagnostic accuracy for predicting learning or behavioral problems. The universal screening is to be administered 1-3 times per year. When it is only administered once, it will be preferable given in the beginning of the school year. This allows the teacher to identify students who are struggling in advance of issues arising. Screening is also used as a tool to answer vital questions such as whether the core curriculum is working or whether instruction is being effective.
Genetic screening techniques are coming of age and the controversy that surrounds them is growing by the minute. The definition of genetic screenings is as follows: a systematic search for persons with a specific genotype. These tests that look into the essence of humanity, will allow scientist and physicians the opportunity and ability to alter the human genotype for better or worse. Genetic advancements will bring controversy at every milestone. Genetic Screening usually takes place when an individu al or group shows risk for a disease or trait. Genetic testing can pinpoint a specific allelic interaction or multiple gene interactions, which may lead to a disorder. The common thread of life is DNA and DNA is the only major requirement for genetic sc reening. With knowledge of structure and function of DNA scientists can unlock the mysteries of life.
Trevena L. (2009) Cancer screening Reprinted from Australian Family Physician: School of Public Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales. Vol. 38, No. 4
Cancer develops when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of
Another test for early detection of prostate cancer has been the digital rectal exam (DRE). Although DRE is a better method for early detection, it is also a hindrance among men, particularly African-American men, to screening and early detection (Plowden, 2009). According to American Cancer Society (ACS) and American Urological Association (AUA), the PSA and DRE should be offered annually for all men beginning at age 50 (Gray, 2009). However, they also recommend that African-American men with a family history of prostate cancer should begin testing by age 45 (Plowden, 2009). However, due to the cultural barriers to prostate screening such as lack of understanding, traditions, mist...
Its history is long and successful. Additionally, its sensitivity and simplicity, spatial and temporal resolution have all played a part in its importance that has led to its persistence as the gold standard in disease detection (Kiernan, 1999; Boekelheide, K. & Schuppe-Koistinen, I. 2012)