Tests that Can Detect Cancer Early

American Cancer Society stresses that regular tests need to be done to check for cancer. Millions of people, know they should be taking these tests and they are not doing it. Some are afraid of finding out the results, some are afraid of doctors and think the tests are going to hurt and some are just procrastinating. The rates of people getting tested in the United States are dropping yearly. Yet, anyone who is at risk, whether it be age or family heredity, is just playing Russian Roulette with their lives.

Some of the most important tests are as follows:

Women should have yearly pap tests . These tests should start at the age of 18 to 20, within three years after a woman becomes sexually active, but no later than the age of 21. The pap tests shows whether a woman is effected with cervical cancer. One sign of cervical cancer is pain when having intercourse.
Women can usually quit having pap tests at the age of 70 and after three normal consecutive pap tests had been performed.

Women between the ages of 20-39 should have a formal breast exam every 3 years.

At the age of 40 women should start having annual mammograms. Whenever breast cancer runs in the family, women should let their doctors know. They may want to start the mammograms earlier. And of course, if there is any symptoms: pain around breasts, pain under arms around the lymph nodes, or discharge from nipples, let your doctor know immediately.

At the age of 50 men should start having yearly prostate screening. Again, if there is prostate cancer in the family, let your doctor know. Your doctor may want to have the test performed sooner. Some signs of prostate cancer are: difficulty of urinating (especially at night) painful urinating, and dull ache in back.

Everyone should start having yearly tests for colon cancer at the age of 50. Usually doctors will order a stool test first. This is a lab test, where you put a stool sample onto a card, for three consecutive days. Then you take it back to the lab and they test it.

Everyone, starting at the age of 50, should also start having colonoscopies. These should be performed every 5 to 10 years, depending on risk factors and health.