Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Early detection of cancer greatly increases the chances for successful treatment. There are two major components of early detection of cancer: education to promote early diagnosis and screening.
Recognizing possible warning signs of cancer and taking prompt action leads to early diagnosis. Increased awareness of possible warning signs of cancer, among physicians, nurses and other health care providers as well as among the general public, can have a great impact on the disease.
Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. But more advanced prostate cancers can sometimes cause symptoms, such as:
• Problems passing urine, including a slow or weak urinary stream or the need to urinate more often, especially at night.
• Blood in the urine
• Trouble getting an erection (erectile dysfunction)
• Pain in the hips, back (spine), chest (ribs), or other areas from cancer that has spread to bones
• Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, or even loss of bladder or bowel control from cancer pressing on the spinal cord.
Other conditions can also cause many of these same symptoms. For example, trouble passing urine is much more often caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) than cancer. Still, it’s important to tell your doctor if you have any of these problems so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.
Prostate cancer may be found by ultrasound, usually performed in doctor’s office. If PSA is elevated, MRI is helpful to find suspicious areas in the prostate. If prostate cancer is found, MRI is now often used to determine whether the cancer has extended outside of the prostate and to determine whether surgery is feasible, as well as for radiation treatment planning. Nuclear medicine bone scan and sodium fluoride PET-CT are helpful for determining whether the cancer has spread to the bones. NDIC offers expertise in all of theses areas.
Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
Early cancer of the ovary often causes no symptoms. Even when symptoms occur, they are more often caused by other things. Look for symptoms that are different from how you usually feel and that continue instead of going away.
The most common symptoms are:
• Swelling of the stomach (abdomen) or bloating caused by a build-up of fluid or a tumor
• Pelvic or belly (abdominal) pain
• Feeling full quickly or trouble eating
• Having to urinate often or feeling as if you have to go right away
Other symptoms can include:
• Tiredness
• Upset stomach
• Back pain
• Pain during sex
• Constipation
• Menstrual changes
• Abdominal swelling with weight loss
If you have any of these problems, talk to your doctor so that the cause can be found.
Annual Screenings = Early Detection
If prostate and ovarian cancer is found as a result of annual screening, it will probably be at an earlier, more treatable stage than if no screening were done. Annual screenings offer the best chances for early detection, proper diagnosis, successful treatment and increased survival rates. Screening can help find cancers at an early stage, when they are more easily cured.
Screening for ovarian cancer is done by pelvic examination and sometimes by CA-125 blood test. Pelvic ultrasound is often used to find any suspicious areas in the ovaries or Fallopian tubes as well as to evaluate the uterus and abnormal bleeding. Pelvic MRI is very useful for evaluating pelvic masses and staging of gynecological tumors. CT scans and PET-CT are invaluable for evaluating ovarian cancer and its potential spread as well as to see whether treatment is working. Ask your Doctor how NDIC can help you, or call us.
ATTENTION WOMEN!
This serves as your yearly reminder to get a Pelvic Exam!
Ranked as the ninth most common cancer among women, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among females. Many patients are often asymptomatic until the cancer has
progressed. Annual exams increase early detection of any abnormalities and ensure timely treatment, maximizing
the chances of survival.
ATTENTION MEN!
This serves as your yearly reminder to get a Prostate Screening!
Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer in men, falling just behind skin cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends that men begin screening for prostate cancer starting as early as 40 for high risk individuals that have a first degree relative that has been diagnosed with the condition, but no later than 50 for low risk individuals. Early detection increases the chances of survival, so make an appointment with your healthcare provider today.
NDIC – Naples Diagnostic Imaging Center
239-593-4222 www.NaplesImaging.com