10 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT

YOURSELF FROM CANCER

1. If you are a smoker, make the effort to quit. If you are not a smoker, don't start.
2. Avoid exposure to other people's smoke.
3. Know the seven warning signs of cancer and see your physician if you observe one
of them.
4. Don't overeat, drink too much alcohol or eat too many fatty foods. Instead, eat more
whole grains, cereal, bread, pasta, fresh fruit and fresh or steamed vegetables –
especially broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. Keep your intake of
lean meat, skinless poultry or fish to no more than 6 ounces per day.
5. Exercise. A 30-minute walk each day is one of the simplest ways to incorporate
exercise into your daily routine.
6. Know your family's medical history and pay attention to a possibly inherited
disposition toward certain cancers.
7. Avoid getting a tan. If your skin will be exposed to the sun for more than 15 minutes,
use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
8. If you are a woman over 20, examine your breasts for lumps or changes at least
once a month. If you are a woman over 40, follow your physician's advice for
mammograms.
9. If you are a man or woman over 40, follow your physician's recommendations for
digital rectal exams.
10. Follow your employer's policies for limiting exposure to harmful chemicals in the
workplace. Always wear protective equipment when indicated, know what to do if
there is a spill or accidental exposure, and report any hazardous conditions to your
supervisor or safety committee representative.

SEVEN WARNING SIGNS OF CANCER

• A change in bowel or bladder habits

• A sore that doesn't heal
• Unusual bleeding or discharge
• A thickening or lump in your breast or elsewhere
• Difficulty swallowing or chronic indigestion
• An obvious change in a wart or mole
• A nagging cough or persistent hoarseness
 ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSTIC
PROCEDURES

COLORECTAL CANCER:

Fecal occult blood test

A fecal occult blood test is a test to check stool (solid waste) for blood that can only be
seen with a microscope. Small samples of stool are placed on special cards and returned to
the doctor or laboratory for testing. Blood in the stool may be a sign of polyps or cancer.

Sigmoidoscopy

Sigmoidoscopy is a procedure to look inside the rectum and lower sigmoid colon for
polyps, abnormal areas, or cancer. A sigmoidoscope is inserted through the rectum into the
sigmoid colon. A sigmoidoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for
viewing. It may also have a tool to remove polyps or tissue samples, which are checked
under a microscope for signs of cancer. A sigmoidoscopy and a digital rectal exam (DRE)
may be used together to screen for colorectal cancer.

Barium enema

A barium enema is a series of x-rays of the lower gastrointestinal tract . A liquid that
contains barium (a silver-white metallic compound) is put into the rectum. The barium coats
the lower gastrointestinal tract and x-rays are taken. This procedure is also called a lower GI
series.
Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is a procedure to look inside the rectum and colon for polyps, abnormal areas,
or cancer. A colonoscope is inserted through the rectum into the colon. A colonoscope is a
thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also have a tool to
remove polyps or tissue samples, which are checked under a microscope for signs of
cancer.

Digital rectal exam

A digital rectal exam (DRE) is an exam of the rectum. The doctor or nurse inserts a
lubricated, gloved finger into the lower part of the rectum to feel for lumps or anything else
that seems unusual.

Virtual colonoscopy

Virtual colonoscopy is a procedure that uses a series of x-rays called computed

tomography to make a series of pictures of the colon. A computer puts the pictures together
to create detailed images that may show polyps and anything else that seems unusual on
the inside surface of the colon. This test is also called colonography or CT colonography.
Clinical trials are comparing virtual colonoscopy with commonly used colorectal cancer
screening tests. Other clinical trials are testing whether drinking a contrast material that
coats the stool, instead of using laxatives to clear the colon, shows polyps clearly.
Bladder and Other Urothelial Cancers
• There is no standard or routine screening test for bladder cancer.

Cystoscopy

Cystoscopy is a procedure to look inside the bladder and urethra to check for abnormal
areas. A cystoscope (a thin, lighted tube) is inserted through the urethra into the bladder.
Tissue samples may be taken for biopsy .

Urine cytology

Urine cytology is the examination of urine under a microscope to check for abnormal cells .

Hematuria tests may also be used to screen for bladder cancer.

Hematuria (red blood cells in the urine) may be caused by cancer or by other conditions. A
hematuria test is used to check for blood in a sample of urine by viewing it under a
microscope or using a special test strip. The test may be repeated over time.

Hepatocellular Cancer Screening

Hepatocellular cancer is cancer that arises in the liver rather than cancer that has spread
to the liver from another organ in the body. The liver is one of the largest organs in the body,
filling the upper right side of the abdomen and protected by the rib cage. The liver has many
functions. It has an important role in converting food into energy and in filtering and storing
blood .

Risk of hepatocellular cancer

Hepatocellular cancer is not a common cancer in the United States, however it is the fourth
most common cancer in the world.

Anything that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease is called a risk factor .
Some of these risk factors for hepatocellular cancer are as follows:

Sex: In the United States, men, especially Chinese American men, have a greater risk of
developing hepatocellular cancer.
Hepatitis:Chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C increase a person’s risk of developing
hepatocellular cancer. The risk is even greater when a person is infected with both hepatitis
B and hepatitis C.

Cirrhosis: People who have cirrhosis are at risk of developing hepatocellular cancer.

Metabolism Disorders: Some metabolism disorders may also increase the risk of
hepatocellular cancer. An example is excess accumulation of iron in the liver
(hemochromatosis).

Screening tests for hepatocellular cancer

A routine effective screening test for hepatocellular cancer has not yet been developed.
Screening trials using ultrasound , computed tomography (CT), and blood tests are
ongoing.

Prostate Cancer Screening

There is no standard or routine screening test for prostate cancer.

Digital rectal exam

Digital rectal exam (DRE) is an exam of the rectum . The doctor or nurse inserts a
lubricated, gloved finger into the lower part of the rectum to feel the prostate for lumps or
anything else that seems unusual.

Digital rectal exam (DRE). The doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum and
feels the prostate to check for anything abnormal.
Prostate-specific antigen test

A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a test that measures the level of PSA in the blood.
PSA is a substance made mostly by the prostate that may be found in an increased amount
in the blood of men who have prostate cancer. The level of PSA may also be high in men
who have an infection or inflammation of the prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia
(BPH; an enlarged, but noncancerous, prostate).

Gastric Cancer Screening

Gastric cancer may also be called stomach cancer. The major type of gastric cancer is
adenocarcinoma , or cancer of the glandular tissue in the stomach. Other rarer forms of
stomach cancer include lymphomas (cancer involving the lymphatic system ) and
sarcomas (cancer of the connective tissue , such as muscle, fat, or blood vessels ).

Risk of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is the fourteenth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.
Although the incidence of stomach cancer in the United States has decreased since the
1930s, gastric cancer is a major cause of death worldwide, especially in developing
countries.

Anything that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease is called a risk factor .
Some of these risk factors for gastric cancer are as follows:

Pre-existing Conditions: If you already have one of the following conditions, you may have a
higher-than-average risk of developing stomach cancer: chronic gastritis , intestinal
metaplasia , pernicious anemia , gastric polyps , or Helicobacter pylori infection of the
stomach.

Older Age: Two out of every three people diagnosed with gastric cancer are older than 66
years of age.

Family History: If you have a mother, father, brother, or sister who has had stomach cancer,
you may have a higher-than-average risk of developing gastric cancer.

Diet and Lifestyle: If you smoke cigarettes and eat many salted, smoked, or poorly preserved
foods but few fruits and vegetables, you may have a higher-than-average risk of developing
gastric cancer.