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Preventing Cancer/Early Detection

Inova Cancer Services stresses the importance of cancer prevention and regular screening for cancer. We offer a wide range of community programs, traveling to schools, businesses and community centers and participating in health fairs. We recognize our responsibility to educate the public about how to preventcancer and how to detect cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages.

What you can do to help prevent cancer.

• Dont smoke and avoid secondhand smoke.
• Eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Consume alcohol in moderation.
• Avoid exposure to toxic chemicals.
• Protect your skin from excessive exposure to sunlight.

How you can examine yourself to detect cancer.

• Check your skin monthly for any changes in moles or for wounds that do not heal.
• Women should perform monthly breast self-exams starting at age 20.
• Men should perform monthly testicular exams.

Recommended Cancer Screening Exams

• Schedule yearly physical exams to detect cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage. Periodic exams include physical exams andblood and urine tests. Your physician also may recommend tests such as ultrasound, X-rays, CT and MRI to diagnose suspected cancers.
• Women should have yearly Pap tests starting at age 18. Women age 20-39 should have a clinical breast exam every three years. Over age 40, women should have a mammogram and a clinical breast exam every year.
• Men age 50 and older should have a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test yearly.

All adults age 40 and over should have a yearly digital rectal exam (DRE). At age 50 and older, a fecal occult blood test should be performed ever year and a flexible sigmoidoscopy every three to five years.

Inova Cancer Services and its affiliated physicians screen patients of all ages for cancer. For information about cancer risk factors, physician referral, seminars and free screening, call Inova HealthSource at 703-750-8800.