Self-examination may lead to early cancer detection in students
Natalie Larson, Senior Writer
There is a stigma of fear perpetuating through the Utah and American culture – an “uneasy attitude about our bodies,” said Cynthia Allen, the health educator in the Student Health Center. Cancer plays a large role in that fear.
“As I work with people here, I’ve noticed people just don’t know enough about their bodies. They don’t know what to eat and how to keep their body as a well-oiled machine,” Allen said.
Allen said it’s “hard to preach to the stereotypical 20-year-old,” because they’re generally healthy – but their habits may not serve them well as they age.
Students should get into the habit of doing self-examinations now, Allen said. Breast and testicular self exams should be done once a month, because prostate and breast cancer are the most common types of cancer among men and women, respectively, Allen said.
Early detection is important. The American Cancer Society recommends several examinations and tests for breast, colon, rectum, cervix, prostate, testicular, oral cavity and skin cancers.
They suggest self-examinations, and regular physical examination by a health professional. If there is a possibility of cancer, and laboratory tests and X-rays.
A recent myth that mammograms damage a woman’s breasts has no basis in medical research, Allen said. Although mammograms aren’t perfect, Allen said, the benefits of having them far outweigh the myth or the discomfort involved in the procedure.
She said women should generally start getting mammograms in their 50s – younger women don’t need to worry about them yet.
“More important for women this age is cervical cancer,” Allen said. This type of cancer is connected to genital warts, a sexually transmitted disease.
Allen said a sexually active young woman should have a pap smear every six months.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in college-age students, Allen said.
“Typically people don’t get the cancer in their 20s, but they cause the damage then,” she said.
Lung cancer is also a critical issue for college-age adults. Most smokers start at 14, Allen said, meaning they have been smoking for almost 10 years by the time they’re in college.
When a person quits smoking, his lungs can return to normal in a month to a year, Allen said, but some people are genetically predisposed to developing emphysema or lung cancer.
The risks of young people for developing cancer is rare, but there is always “that one,” Allen said.
“Become aware of your body,” Allen said. “You are more likely to notice something than just going in for a test once a year.”
Taking care and being aware of one’s body is an important part of cancer prevention, Allen said. She said there is a strong link between diet and colon cancer; students should include vegetables and foods rich in fiber in their diets.
A person’s family history of cancer plays an important role in determining the standard for prevention. Those who have a history need to start watching for signs 10 years earlier than what’s recommended by the ACS, Allen said.
Those recommendations and more information on cancer and cancer screenings can be found at the ACS Web site, www.cancer.org, or by calling 1-800-ACS-2345.