Sturdy Memorial Hospital's
Cancer Care Program

Encourages Cancer Screenings for Early Detection

Ignorance is bliss, but not when it comes to knowing if you have cancer. Some cancers come with warning signs; others, like ovarian cancer, are nicknamed "silent killers" because they can progress without a patient experiencing any symptoms. According to the American Cancer Society, over one million people are diagnosed with cancer each year, and approximately one out of every two American men, and one out of every three American women, will have some type of cancer at some point during their lifetime. Millions living with cancer today are fighting it and winning because of preventive measures and earlier detection of the disease. Cancer screenings, like those available at Sturdy Memorial Hospital, are important tools used to detect cancer, because the earlier it is found, the easier - and more effective - the treatment.

Early Detection and Diagnosis

Habits such as smoking, environmental factors such as sun exposure, and infectious viruses are contributing causes to cancer, and because of this, regular screenings by health care professionals are encouraged to detect and remove precancerous growths, as well as to diagnose cancers at an early stage when they are most treatable. Screening can detect cancers of the breast, cervix, colon, oral cavity, prostate, rectum, and skin in their early treatable stages. For most of these cancers, early detection has been proven to reduce mortality. Research done by the American Cancer Society indicates that the percentage of cancer patients who survive and have been cured has increased by over 15% in the last twenty-five years, as a result of early diagnosis and improvements in cancer treatments.

Because everyone is at risk for cancer, it's not a matter of who should get screened, but when. "Routine cancer screenings are recommended for men and women in their 40s and 50s, but women should begin breast self-exams and have Pap tests for cervical cancer starting in their 20s," says Dr. Paula McBrine, a Board Certified Medical Oncologist/Hematologist. "These age groups are at a higher risk for developing certain kinds of cancers. In addition to regular cancer-related check-ups and examinations, health counseling and cancer-risk evaluations by your health care provider help to determine a patient's likelihood of developing cancer based on assessments of the patient's routines, and history of cancer in the family."

HPV Vaccine and Screening

Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in males and females, causing genital warts, and, in some cases, cervical cancer in women. According to the US Centers for Disease Control, approximately 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV, with another 6.2 million people becoming newly infected each year. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008, 11,070 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in the US. These figures can only be minimized with vaccination and screening.

The HPV vaccine, which is now available to protect females from the four types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers and genital warts, is recommended for girls and women ages 11 through 26. Because the vaccine does not protect against all strains of HPV, females should continue regular Pap smear screening, according to their health care providers' advice. Current screening includes the traditional Pap test and now may include a DNA test to detect cancer-inducing HPV viruses. "The best way to prevent cervical cancer is through regular, annual screening," says Dr. Richard Smith, a Board Certified Pathologist. "Women at a high-risk for developing cervical cancer are not those with high-risk behavior, but those who haven't been screened regularly. Annual screening also measures changes over time, and since the disease takes five years to develop, the effectiveness of screening is magnified by annual repetition." Routine Pap tests identify abnormalities and changes in the cervix to detect the earliest signs of cervical cancer. According to Dr. Smith, "Adding the HPV DNA test allows detection of cancer-inducing viruses even when cellular abnormalities are not present. If women have any doubts whether their doctor is including a test for HPV, ask. Lab tests can be performed to specifically locate the presence of the virus."

Cancer Care Program

Sturdy Memorial's Cancer Care Program, approved by the American College of Surgeons, provides clinical excellence in cancer diagnosis, treatment, support, education, and innovation. The Hospital encourages prevention and early detection of cancer by offering public education programs and cervical, colorectal, prostate, skin, and breast cancer screenings throughout the year. Call 508-236-7015 for dates and information. All cancer screenings sponsored by Sturdy Memorial include an educational component where physicians and nurses share information on the early signs of cancer with the participants.