Killing Cancer, Routine Procedures Keep You Healthy

Most people are unaware of the everyday signs of cancer that can easily be detected. Routine tests and checkups like pap smears, colonoscopies and other procedures can help people catch and protect against these important health issues that could turn into other problems later on.

For American women, colon cancer is estimated to be the highest among cancers, next to lung and breast cancer, according to experts. However, with the right screening, it is believed that 60 percent of deaths caused from colon cancer can be prevented.

A colonoscopy is one of several tests that screen for colon cancer and only takes a short amount of down time. It is estimated that more than nine out of 10 people with colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer or cancer that starts in the large intestine, are over 50 years old, according to the American Cancer Society.  Anyone over 50 should receive the procedure every 10 years. This time period of 10 years is believed to be an adequate progression for doctors to remove precancerous polyps that might have otherwise turned into something more harmful. Being able to screen and treat these materials helps from preventing future cancerous cells.

Regular pap smears are also an easy way to check for abnormal or precancerous cells that may be found in the cervix, the lower, narrow end of the uterus at the upper end of the vaginal area.

Detecting cervical cancerous cells early presents the opportunity to find a cure for cervical cancer more easily. It is estimated that each year, approximately 12,000 U.S. women receive diagnoses of cervical cancer and 4,000 women die of the disease according to a 2011 article in The Washington Post. Detecting the abnormal cells early is the first step to halting the possible development of cervical cancer.

These are just a few of the ways to help prevent signs of precancerous cells developing. Keeping a healthy diet and exercise is also a good move to put into play when helping keep cancer away.