Breast Cancer

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Early detection of breast cancer dramatically improves the chances of successful treatment. Regular mammograms, yearly breast exams by a health-care provider, and monthly breast self-exams are the primary screening methods used to detect breast cancer early. A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast tissue that can detect cancer years before a tumor can be felt. During a breast exam, the health-care provider carefully feels the tissue in the breasts and under the arms to check for lumps or other unusual changes, such as puckering or scaling of the skin. In breast self-examination, a woman should check her breasts for lumps, thickenings, or any other abnormalities. The breast self-exam may complement or increase the effectiveness of the other screenings but does not replace the need for clinical breast exams and mammograms. Your health-care provider can demonstrate how to perform a breast self-exam. It is important to remember that, although most breast lumps are not cancerous, all breast lumps and abnormalities must be evaluated by a medical professional.

Ages 20–40

• Breast self-exam every month
• Breast exam every year by a health-care provider

Age 40 and over

• Breast self-exam every month
• Breast exam every year by a health-care provider
• Mammogram every year

All Ages

Women who have had breast cancer, radiation treatment to the chest, who have a family history of breast cancer, or are known carriers of BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutations may need special testing or screening beginning at an earlier age. These women should speak with their health-care providers to determine recommended breast cancer screening.

View our Steps to Early Breast Cancer Detection information card.

Cervical Cancer

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Cervical cancer is nearly 100% curable when detected in early stages. During the last forty years, the number of deaths due to cervical cancer has decreased by more than 70%, largely due to women getting regular Pap tests. The Pap test is a simple test in which cells are collected from in and around the cervix. The procedure can be done in a few minutes in your health-care provider's office. Women who have been vaccinated against the human papillomavirus still need regular Pap tests and pelvic exams.

The Pap test is recommended to begin within three years after becoming sexually active, but no later than age 21. It should be continued annually until your health-care provider determines a different screening schedule is appropriate.

Colorectal Cancer

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Colorectal cancer affects men and women, most commonly after age 50. Cancerous cells usually develop in a polyp, which is a small tissue mass on the colon’s surface. Detecting and removing polyps early may cure or even prevent colorectal cancer. The three primary methods used to detect colorectal cancer are stool blood testing, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy.

Stool blood testing, in which the stool (bowel movement) is checked for red blood cells not visible to the naked eye, consists of smearing a small amount of stool onto special paper and mailing it to a clinic or laboratory, where a chemical that can detect the presence of blood is applied to the paper. Patients may be asked to follow a special diet four to seven days before the stool blood test.

Sigmoidoscopy consists of having a sigmoidoscope—a flexible tube about three-fourths inch in diameter that contains a special camera —inserted into the anus so the health-care provider can thoroughly examine the lower part of your colon. Because the procedure can cause air to be inserted into the colon, patients may feel some minor discomfort similar to gas pain.

Colonoscopy detects polyps and tumors in their early stages. In this procedure, the entire colon is examined using a flexible tube with an attached camera (colonoscope). If a polyp is found, it can be removed during the exam. If a tumor or large polyp is found, a small piece of tissue will be removed to determine if it is cancer. Before the procedure takes place, the doctor will provide instructions on how to cleanse the colon to prepare for the exam.

Age 50 and over

• Stool blood test every year
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy with digital rectal exam every five years
• Colonoscopy every five to ten years

Those at high risk

Certain groups of people may need special testing because of an increased risk of colorectal cancer. People with one or more of the following should speak with a health-care provider about the need for more specialized colorectal cancer screening:

• Previous diagnosis of colorectal cancer or polyps
• Inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease
• Two or more immediate relatives such as a parent, sibling, or child with colon cancer
• One or more relatives diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 50
• Carriers of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), Gardner syndrome, or hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC)

Some leading cancer organizations have recommended stool DNA tests and virtual colonoscopy as options for colon cancer screening. Although both tests have shown promise, HCI recommends continuing with present, thoroughly tested screening approaches until further studies confirm the long-term, overall effectiveness of the newer methods.

Skin Cancer and Melanoma

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Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer. More than 1 million cases are diagnosed each year. There are three main types:

Regular screening is important for early detection of skin cancer. Screening for skin cancer consists of frequent skin self-examinations. For skin self-examination, you examine your entire body, checking for irregular moles, lesions, and sores that don’t heal.

Suspicious moles may have one or more of the following characteristics:

• Asymmetrical shape
• Border irregularity
• Color difference within a mole
• Diameter equal to or larger than the size of a pencil eraser

Nodules, scaly patches, signs of change or growth in a mole, or any sore that does not heal within four weeks should be reported to a dermatologist. Although the majority of skin abnormalities are not cancerous, they must be evaluated by a dermatologist.

Talk with your dermatologist about when to begin skin exams, how to perform skin self-exams, and how often you need a professional skin exam. Ideally, you would perform a skin self-exam monthly and have a professional skin exam annually.

Those with any of the following conditions may need special early detection measures, such as more frequent skin exams and mole mapping, and should take more precautions to avoid sunburns:

• A personal history of melanoma
• An immediate family member (parent, sibling, or child) with a history of melanoma
• A light complexion, such as red or blond hair, green or blue eyes, or the tendency to sunburn easily
• A blistering or peeling sunburn that occurred before the age of 18
• One or more abnormal moles, which are moles that are 4 mm or more in diameter, partially or completely flat, varying in color, or have irregular or indistinct borders

Where to turn with your questions and concerns:

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These guidelines provide a brief overview of cancer screening. We know you may have many additional questions, and we are here to help you answer them.

• Visit the Cancer Learning Center, where you can browse the library, perform Internet research, or talk with a cancer information specialist.
• Call Huntsman Cancer Information Service at (801) 581-6365 (in Salt Lake) or toll free at (888) 424-2100 to talk with a cancer information specialist.
• Visit the Huntsman Online Patient Education Guide, www.hopeguide.org,to locate more information.

The information provided on this website does not replace individual discussion with and medical advice provided by members of your health-care team. This information is meant to support, not replace, communication with your health-care provider.