In many cases, the sooner cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better a person's chance for full recovery. If a person develops cancer, he or she can improve the chance that it will be detected early with regular medical check ups and regular self-examinations. Often a doctor can find early cancer during a physical exam or during routine tests even if the person has no symptoms. Various important medical exams and tests are described below.

*Examination of rectum and lower portion of the colon 

Source: American Cancer Society. Patients should check with their physicians about specific guidelines based on their health situation.

Cancer Exams for both Men and Women

Skin: Patients should have their skin examined by a doctor during regular checkups for signs of skin cancer. Men and women should also check themselves regularly for new growths, sores that do not heal, changes in the size shape, or color of any moles, or any other changes on the skin. Warning signs like these should be reported to the doctor right away.

Colon and Rectum: Beginning at age 50, men and women should have a yearly fecal occult blood test. This test is a check for hidden (occult) blood in the stool. A small amount of stool is placed on a plastic slide or on a special paper. It may be tested in the doctor's office or sent to a lab. This test is done because cancer of the colon and rectum may cause bleeding, although having blood in the stool does not necessarily mean a person has cancer. If blood is found, the doctor may order more tests to help make a diagnosis.

To check for cancer of the rectum, the doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum and feels for any bumps or abnormal areas. This is called a "digital" rectal exam. This type of rectal exam should be performed during regular checkups.

Every 3 to 5 years after age 50, patients should have a sigmoidoscopy. In this exam, the doctor uses a thin, flexible tube with a light to look inside the rectum and colon and check for abnormal areas.

Mouth: Men and women should have their mouths examined by their dentist and doctor during regular visits. Also, by looking in the mirror, one can check inside one's mouth for changes in the color of the lips, gums, tongue, or inner checks, and for scabs, cracks, sores, white patches, swelling or bleeding. It is often possible to see or feel changes in the mouth that might be cancer or a condition that might lead to cancer. Any symptoms in one's mouth should be checked by a doctor or a dentist. Oral exams are especially important for people who use alcohol or tobacco products and for anyone over age 50.

Cancer Exams for Men

Prostate: Men over age 40 should have a yearly digital rectum exam to check the prostate gland for hard or lumpy areas. The doctor feels the prostate through the wall of the rectum.

Testicles: Testicular cancer occurs most often between ages of 15 and 34. Most of these cancers are found by men themselves, often by doing a testicular self-examination. If one finds a lump or notices another change such as heaviness, swelling, unusual tenderness, or pain, he should see his doctor. Also, the doctor should examine the testicles as part of regular medical checkups.

Breast/Chest: Breast cancer in men is rare, but it does occur. If abnormal swelling or lumps in either the breast, nipple (including nipple discharge) or chest muscle are noticed, a doctor should be consulted.

Cancer Exams for Women

Breast: When breast cancer is found early, a woman has more treatment choices and a good chance of complete recovery. So, it is important that breast cancer be detected as early as possible. The National Cancer Institute encourages women to take an active part in early detection. Women should talk to their doctor about this disease, the symptoms to watch for, and an appropriate schedule for checkups. Women should ask their doctors about:

• Mammograms (x-rays of the breasts)
• Breast exams by a doctor or nurse
• Breast self-examination (BSE)

A mammogram can often show tumors or changes in the breast long before they can be felt or cause other symptoms. However, mammograms can not find every abnormal area in the breast. This is especially true in the breasts of young women. Another important step in early detection for women is to have their breasts examined regularly by a doctor or a nurse.

Between visits to the doctor, women should examine their breasts every month. By doing breast self-examination, women learn what looks and feels normal for their breasts, and they are more likely to find a change. Any changes should be reported to a doctor. Most breast lumps are not cancer, but only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

Cervix: Regular pelvic exams and Pap tests are important to detect early cancer of the cervix. In a pelvic exam, the doctor feels the uterus, vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, and rectum for any change in size or shape.

For the Pap test, a sample of cells is collected from the upper vagina and cervix with a small brush or flat wooden stick. The sample is placed on a glass slide and checked under a microscope for cancer or other abnormal cells.

Women should start having a Pap test (also called "Pap smear") every year after they turn 18 or become sexually active. If the results are normal for 3 or more years, a woman may have this test performed less often, based on her doctor's advice.

Updated: June 9, 2008

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