Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

cardiovascular disease prevention 15
Type of Cancer
BREAST CANCER
SCREENING FOR EARLY DETECTION OF CANCER
Routine Screening*
monthly BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION (BSE)
annual breast examination from health-care provider
annual MAMMOGRAM for women beginning at age 40 years
CERVICAL CANCER
PAP TEST every one to three years beginning with the start of sexual activity
or at age 18
colorectal CANCER
annual FECAL OCCULT BLOOD TEST (FOBT) beginning at age 50 in combination
with one of the following:
• flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years
OR
• double-contrast BARIUM ENEMA every five years
OR
• COLONOSCOPY every 10 years
oral cancer (lips and structures of the MOUTH)
annual dental examination
OVARIAN CANCER
annual pelvic examination
PROSTATE CANCER
annual DIGITAL RECTAL EXAMINATION (DRE) to palpate the PROSTATE GLAND for
growths beginning at age 45
annual PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA) blood test beginning at age 50
SKIN CANCER
regular self-examination of all SKIN surfaces
skin examination by dermatologist every three to five years after age 40
TESTICULAR CANCER
monthly TESTICULAR SELF-EXAMINATION
physician examination with every routine physical for men between the
ages of 15 and 35
*For people who have no greater than normal risk for developing cancer. Those who have increased risk because of personal or family health history
should follow the recommendations of their physicians.
Yet health experts believe that nearly 90 percent
of acquired CVD is preventable. Though people
commonly perceive CVD, also called HEART disease,
as a condition affecting older adults, its genesis is
often in ADOLESCENCE. Some research studies have
found early-stage ATHEROSCLEROSIS and CORONARY
ARTERY DISEASE (CAD) in teenagers whose lifestyles
are sedentary and feature EATING HABITS high in fast
foods.
Age and heredity are primary factors in the
development of cardiovascular disease. It is not, at
present, possible to do much to change their
effects on the cardiovascular system. Doctors consider
them fixed (immutable) risk factors that
affect every person to some degree. Even in the
presence of these risks, however, cardiovascular
disease remains primarily the evolution of lifestyle
and behavior. These are modifiable (mutable) risk
factors; it is possible to change them and thus the
influences they exert on the development of cardiovascular
disease. Cigarette smoking, OBESITY,
lack of regular physical exercise, and eating habits
are the leading factors that result in acquired
(noncongenital) heart disease. Accordingly, personal
prevention efforts target these habits. Key
among such efforts are
• SMOKING CESSATION programs