The Prevent Cancer Foundation encourages women to continue breast cancer screening in accordance with guidelines from the American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen for the Cure which recommend screening using mammography and clinical breast examination for all women beginning at age 40. We encourage women to discuss the recent changes to the US Preventive Services Task Force Guidelines with their health care providers. However, the Prevent Cancer Foundation advocates that regular screening and breast self exams in accordance with ACS guidelines is an effective approach to detecting breast cancers in their earliest, most treatable stages.
Cancer prevention is multifaceted. Men and women should practice primary prevention by exercising, choosing healthful diets, consuming alcohol only in moderation, and avoiding or quitting tobacco products. We should understand our family medical history and risk for developing cancer by talking with our families and health care providers. And, individuals should be screened for cancers in which technologies are available and in accordance with evidence-based medical screening guidelines. The Federal government and private funders must support robust research in prevention and early detection of cancers to enable us to find better markers for cancers, improved screening technologies, and chemopreventive agents.
Early detection of cancer is critical.
Early detection of cancer is critical. Finding and treating cancer early can enable more successful treatment. For many cancers, especially in the case of breast, colon and cervical cancers, there are screening tools available. They are supported by a significant base of clinical evidence that show them effective in reducing mortality from cancer.
A 2008 study conducted by the American Cancer Society (ACS) looked at 3.5 million cancer patients with 12 of the most common cancer types, comparing uninsured or Medicaid-insured patients with privately insured patients. The study showed that uninsured or Medicaid-insured individuals were far more likely to be diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer. The study authors concluded that many of the advanced cancers were types that could have been detected early with proper screening.
The ACS study and others are clear indicators that men and women should continue to be screened. Our screening technologies are not perfect, but they work. Men and women should talk to their health care providers about screening guidelines and their family history and continue to perform self-exams when possible.
“Men and women should continue to be screened according to evidence-based screening guidelines and talk to their health care professionals if they have a family history of cancer and pre-cancerous conditions. Knowledge and information are two of the most powerful tools that we have available to us in our efforts to prevent and detect cancer early, and ultimately, increase chances for successful treatment of the disease,” advises Carolyn Aldige, President and Founder of the Prevent Cancer Foundation.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation will continue it’s mission to educate the public about cancer screening guidelines and risk reduction, and to fund cutting-edge research to identify better tools in cancer prevention to improve existing opportunities and develop them for those cancers that cannot be detected early. We will also continue to advocate for strong Federal support to improve our ability to prevent, detect early, and treat all cancers.