Early detection and prevention make all the difference
Studies consistently show that when it comes to women’s health, there is no substitute for prevention, early detection and a healthy lifestyle.
Women who stay smoke-free, get annual screenings, manage stress, eat right and exercise have the best chance at a long, healthful life, according to
H. Rex Greene M.D., medical director of the Dorothy E. Schneider Cancer Center.
“While Mills-Peninsula is well ahead of national averages for detecting and fighting cancers in the earliest stages, at least one-third of all cancer deaths are related to nutrition and other controllable lifestyle factors,” he said.
Lung cancer, last year’s leading cause of cancer death in U.S. women, killed nearly 66,000 people and was linked to cigarette smoking in 90 percent of those cases.
“It’s easier to prevent lung cancer than to treat it,” Dr. Greene said.
With breast cancer, early detection is key because all women, regardless of race, have an equal chance at getting breast cancer. Last year, breast cancer was the second leading cause of cancer death in U.S. women, killing nearly 40,000.
Over the course of their entire lifetime, all women have a 1 in 7 chance of contracting the disease. More significant, women age 20 through 40 with a strong family history of breast cancer at an early age have a nearly 50-50 chance of developing breast cancer. Some of these women also are at risk for other cancers.
“If you’re not getting an annual check-up that includes a Pap smear and manual breast exam, you put yourself at risk,” the medical director said.
Studies show mortality rates over the past 50 years from cervical cancer alone have dropped 70 percent, thanks to annual Pap tests. In fact, a new lab procedure available at Mills-Peninsula, called ThinPrep, now makes it easier for lab technologists to read and test for cervical cancer, among other abnormalities.
Often mistaken as a man’s disease, colon cancer, which killed over 28,000 U.S. women last year, is the third leading cause of cancer death for U.S. women.
“Again, if a relative has had it before age 50, your chances for contracting it increase,” Dr. Greene said. Screenings should begin by age 50. “When all polyps are found and removed, the chance of dying from colon cancer is reduced 90 percent,” the cancer specialist said.
“Cancer actually is a broad category comprised of more than 200 different diseases,” he said. “Different diseases require different strategies, so beware of anyone who touts a single pill, cure or test for early diagnosis of all forms of cancer. It doesn’t exist.”
The most important moment in cancer treatment is immediately following diagnosis, according to Dr. Greene. “It is critical for you to find the right oncologist who will recommend correct treatments and identify the best specialists and surgeons. Studies show these early decisions impact your chances for favorable results.”
Mills-Peninsula is among national leaders in five-year breast cancer survival rates, in part because it significantly leads detection of stage 0 breast cancer, the earliest, most curable, stage, by 9 percent, according to the National Cancer Database.
“Breast cancer is 95 percent curable, if caught in its earliest stages, which explains why our survival rates exceed national averages,” Dr. Greene said.
What you can do
Build a relationship with your doctor.
Here’s how:
Focus your checkup on prevention.
Schedule regular screenings, such as:
“Lifestyle, including stress management, may have a greater impact on your health than many other preventive measures, Dr. Greene said.”
For more information, talk to your doctor or call the Dorothy E. Schneider Cancer Center at 696-4509. You will also find a comprehensive library of information about cancer and Mills-Peninsula cancer services here.