By Vasilios Markos, Pathologist-Oncologist, Associate of Peristeri Clinic
The World Health Organization estimates that by 2020 there will be 20,000,000 new cases of cancer every year. Half of the people who develop cancer will lose their life from this disease as a result of the diagnosis being done at an advanced stage. Prevention of cancer is possible and necessary through screening. Here are some screening methods:
Breast cancer
Breast self examination: Breast self-examination contributes significantly to early diagnosis of breast cancer and full healing. About 40% of breast cancers are detected by women during self-examination, which is why it is so important. It should start at the age of 20 and continue for life, every month, immediately after the period.
Clinical examination of the breasts: It should be done periodically, about every 3 years, in the 20s and 30s, and every year from the age of 40 and over. If women believe that there is a change in mammary glands, they should inform their doctor immediately.
Mammography: Annually from the age of 40.
Colorectal
Fecal occult blood test (Mayer test): Examination involves fecal testing for blood traces not seen with the naked eye. It should be done annually from the age of 50.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: With the help of a flexible endoscopic instrument, 60 cm long, the lower part of the colon is examined.
or
Colonoscopy: The physician inserts a flexible endoscope through the rectum into the large intestine and examines through a camera the inside of the entire colon. Colonoscopy is the most effective method of monitoring. It is proposed to test the entire population, every decade from the age of 50 and at for people with high risk (e.g. with a positive family history, a history of ulcerative colitis, etc.) from the age of 40, with a higher frequency.
or
Axial colonoscopy: It is based on imaging by a CT scan from the duct of the colon to detect benign or malignant features. It does not allow biopsies to be taken from suspicious lesions or polyps removal.
Prostate cancer
Urological examination (prostate screening)
And
Measurement of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood: PSA testing is recommended to be carried out once a year in men over 50 years of age or younger, with specific risk factors (e.g. first degree relatives of prostate cancer) and in combination with a digital rectal examination by the specialist.
Cervical cancer
Pap Test / Vaginal smear test: It is a method of preventing cancer by detecting and treating early anomalies which, if untreated, could lead to cervical cancer. The risk of cervical cancer is reduced by as much as 90% for women undergoing regular check-ups.
Screening should be carried out every year with the classic Pap Test or every 2 years with the Liquid Βased Pap Test. After the age of 30 years, women who had 3 consecutive normal Pap smear tests may be reviewed every 2 to 3 years with a cervical cytology examination (Pap test) alone or every 3 years with HPV DNA testing in combination with Pap test.
Endometrial cancer
Uterine testing involves any woman who has vaginal bleeding when she is in the menopause, so she should immediately visit the gynecologist.
Skin cancer
Examination of the skin by a dermatologist: It is performed with simple examination, with dermoscopy (examination with a special lens that illuminates the microscopic details of the moles), and with the use of digital photography and computer analysis. The latter is carried out in specialized centers and with special equipment that allows the capturing of the moles at a given moment and the comparison of these images in a future examination of the patient to detect possible changes in these moles.
Clinical skin examination: It should be performed by a doctor after the age of 50 (every 2 years). For people with light skin, clinical skin examination should be performed every year after the age of 40 years.
Examination of the skin by the patient himself:
Check for:
- A new mole (which looks abnormal)
- A change in size, shape, color, or the formation of a mole
- A wound that does not heal
- A mole bleeding
