Prevention and Early Detection
The Center for Prevention and Early Detection at the Rush-Copley Cancer Care Center is dedicated to helping each member of community reduce his or her cancer risk no matter what age. Through comprehensive educational and screening programs, we are attacking cancer before it starts. To learn more about our educational programs or cancer screenings, call our Patient Navigator at 630-375-2936 or e-mail our Cancer Risk Expert.
Take the Sun Safety Quiz
Sun safety is not just for vacation. Are you sun-safe every day? Take the American Cancer Society's 9-question quiz and find out.
Cancer Prevention Recommendations
Although no disease is entirely preventable, Americans can reduce their risk for cancer. The following lifestyle choices recommended by the American Cancer Society can help reduce your cancer risk.
- Choose most of the foods you eat from plant sources
- Limit intake of high fat foods, particularly form animal sources
- Be physically active
- Limit consumption of alcoholic beverages, if you drink at all
- Don't Smoke!
Cancer Screening Recommendations
Cancers that can be detected by screening account for about half of all new cancer cases. The 5-year survival rate for these cancers is about 82%. According to the American Cancer Society, if all of these cancers were diagnosed at the localized stage through regular cancer screenings, 5-year survival rates would increase to 95%.
Beginning at age 18+
WOMEN
Annual pap test and pelvic exam (or as recommended by your doctor)
Beginning at age 20+
MEN & WOMEN
Skin exam every three years
Cancer-related checkup every three years*
WOMEN
Monthly breast self-exam
Clinical breast exam every three years
Beginning at age 40+
MEN & WOMEN
Annual skin exam
Annual cancer-related checkup*
WOMEN
Annual mammogram
Annual clinical breast exam
Monthly breast self-exam
Beginning at Age 50+
MEN & WOMEN
Annual fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years or
Colonoscopy every 10 years or
Double-contrast barium enema every five years
MEN
Talk to your doctor about beginning annual prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood testing and digital rectal exam (DRE).
Note: Those people who are at higher risk for specific cancers, such as a personal or family history or are of a race at high risk, should begin screening at an earlier age and/or undergo screening more often. Consult your physician for a screening schedule that is right for you.
* Includes health counseling and may include examinations for cancers of the thyroid, oral cavity, skin, lymph nodes, testes and ovaries as well as for some non-malignant diseases.