Colon Cancer
Colon cancer, a prevalent and potentially lethal disease, is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous types of cancer. It's a type of cancer that no one wants to face, but with proper screening and early detection, it's possible to significantly reduce your risk.
Impressive data indicates that with adequate screening, the risk of colon cancer can be
reduced by 60%, a significant figure considering that it's among the top four cancers in South
Africa for both men and women. Traditionally, the recommended age to start screening was 50, however recent trends and studies suggest that it might be beneficial to start much earlier, especially if you have a family history of the disease. For instance, if your parent was diagnosed at 40, you should start your screenings at 30. While stool tests are another option, the gold standard remains the colonoscopy. If you have a normal risk level and your first colonoscopy is normal, you can repeat it every ten years. However, if you have an increased risk, it should be done every five years.
The peace of mind a colonoscopy provides, knowing that you don't have cancer, is invaluable. The alternative, dealing with a cancer diagnosis and the potential of having a colostomy bag for the rest of your life, is far more distressing. It's a simple choice: take preventative measures or deal with the life-altering consequences of late-stage cancer.
It's important to understand the difference between 'mortality' and 'morbidity'. Whilst
mortality refers to the likelihood of death from a disease, morbidity refers to how much a
disease can impact your quality of life. Late-stage colon cancer has a high mortality rate, but even if it doesn't kill you, the morbidity associated with it can drastically affect your life. Early
detection, on the other hand, can allow you to continue living a normal, healthy life.
Ultimately, the most effective strategy against colon cancer is early detection and treatment.
If it's found early, the solution is simple: cut it out. If it's detected late and has spread, the
treatment becomes more complex and involves chemotherapy, targeted radiotherapy, and
potentially more invasive procedures.
Breast Cancer
Did you know that in South Africa, one in 27 women have a life-time risk of developing breast
cancer? This prevalence makes it quite a common cancer among women. However, studies
have shown that screening for breast cancer, particularly in women between the ages of 40
and 69, can bring down the mortality rate by 15 to 20%. This is a significant number that
underlines the importance of regular screening.
When it comes to screening, most people think of a mammogram, which is primarily used for
detecting solid masses in the breast. However, for masses that are not solid, an ultrasound
scan is often employed. The mammogram is highly sensitive, with almost a 90% sensitivity
rate for detecting cancer in the breast tissue. It tends to be more sensitive for women above
the age of 50 and less sensitive for women with dense breast tissue. Despite these
variations, it remains the gold standard in breast cancer screening.
A mammogram is essentially a low-dose X-ray. For women with thick or dense breast tissue, the sensitivity can decrease to around 50%. In such cases, an ultrasound is commonly used to detect any masses in the dense tissue that may not have been identified through the mammogram. In more complicated cases, an MRI is often the preferred method, particularly for women at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
Aside from the different screening methods, family history plays a crucial role in determining
the risk of breast cancer. Close relatives such as your mother, aunt, or grandmother having
had breast cancer significantly increases your risk, which is why it's important to be aware of your family's medical history and share it with your healthcare provider. Other factors like the age at which menstruation started and when the first child was born can also influence the risk.
Regular mammograms make it possible to track changes over time, thus improving the
sensitivity of the tests. The more mammograms you have, the better the chances of detecting
any changes early. In South Africa, the recommended guideline is to start yearly
mammograms from the age of 40. From the age of 55, you can either continue with yearly
mammograms or have them every two years.
Cervical Cancer
While breast cancer is a major health concern, cervical cancer is another serious issue that
women need to be aware of. In South Africa, the prevalence of cervical cancer is double that
of the rest of the world, largely due to a high prevalence of the HPV strains 16 and 18.
Cervical cancer is the number one cause of cancer-related deaths among women in South
Africa, but early detection can make it curable. Screening for cervical cancer should start early, ideally from the age of 25, or even earlier for HIV-positive women. The screening methods include cytology smear or HPV testing. The latter is more sensitive and can be done every five years for a normal risk person, whereas the cytology smear should be done every three years.
Unlike breast cancer, genetics play a minimal role in cervical cancer. Rather, it's the human
papilloma virus (HPV), particularly the substrains 16 and 18, that's the main culprit. Vaccination against the HPV virus can significantly reduce the risk of developing cervical
cancer.
In conclusion, regular screening for both breast and cervical cancer is crucial in early
detection and successful treatment. It's our responsibility as individuals to prioritize our
health and ensure that we're doing all we can to mitigate the risk of these prevalent cancers.
In our next blog post (Part 4) we will take an in-depth look into the future of cancer screening.
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