Some medical tests could save Texans’ lives

With the great advances in healthcare in recent years, many of them related to early detection of disease, it makes more and more sense for residents of Dallas, Houston, Austin and throughout Texas to take advantage of what is available. Those who do are more likely to live longer, some experts say.

History supports the idea with at least one example, the death rate associated with cervical cancer. Fifty years ago, cervical cancer was responsible for the deaths of more women than any other form of cancer. When medical science developed the Pap test, which can identify cervical cancer before it starts, the death rate began to decline; Today cervical cancer is number 15 on the list of cancers that kill American women.

Not all tests are perfect, experts say, and that goes for the Pap smear. According to the National Institutes of Health, for every five women who have cancerous or precancerous cervical cells, at least one will have a test mistakenly reported as normal. Because this type of cancer develops slowly, a woman’s next test should be a better indicator, but a so-called “false negative” can result in a delay, which could be dangerous when it comes to diagnosis and treatment.

Another common test that can have life-saving benefits for Texans is a colonoscopy, which is performed by a doctor who inserts a flexible, lighted tube into the rectum and guides it into the colon to find and remove growths called polyps, the source of most colon cancers. .

Although the Centers for Disease Control reports a decline in colon cancer deaths from more than 57,000 in 2000 to 53,580 in 2004, one problem identified by some researchers is that doctors who screen too quickly will not see the full benefit of the trial.

When doing colonoscopies, experience is considered a factor. Some experts suggest asking your doctor how many colonoscopies are done in a typical morning. Ten is a reasonable number, experts say.

Another test that is known to be effective in saving lives is the detection of the human papillomavirus. Commonly known as an HPV test, the procedure identifies the virus responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. The HPV test is used with the Pap smear to screen women over the age of 30 and is used to assess whether they have been infected with any of the 13 types of HPV that are linked to cancer. HPV testing is also suggested for younger women if a Pap test shows a possible problem exists.

Breast cancer screening tests include a mammogram, one of the most basic methods of screening. While mammograms have generated some controversy, as a result of a Danish research study that said there was no good evidence behind their widespread use, both the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute have since come out in favor of the test for women, from 40 years

For women over age 50, the US Preventive Services Task Force reports that an annual mammogram reduces the risk of dying from breast cancer by at least 16%. However, the test has its flaws, including the possibility that it indicates an anomaly when there really isn’t one. While one can argue against getting a false alarm, what’s more concerning are surveys that show that in about 20% of cases where cancer is present, a mammogram misses it.

Patients who remain concerned are sometimes encouraged to request a double review of an X-ray. Another strategy is to ask the testing center about their reading practices. Some experts say that, ideally, two radiologists should read the X-rays or scan them using computer-aided detection technologies that can improve the accuracy of the tests.

Some experts also suggest that women at higher risk get an MRI every year, with the idea that higher detection rates generally come from MRI compared to mammography. In a study by Ellen Warner, MD, a medical oncologist at the Toronto Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Center in Ontario, MRI found 77% of cancers, compared to 36% detected by mammography. At the same time, women at average risk are discouraged from having an MRI because of the high false-positive rate, which often indicates cancer when none is present.

Not all cancer news is good news.

A prominent point of concern is melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer that has the distinction of being the only cancer that can be detected and that is on the rise, both in the number of new cases and in the death rate.

The American Cancer Society suggests getting screened for melanoma at every checkup. Because melanoma can occur in surprising places that are difficult to examine on one’s own, such as the eyes, gums and genitals, experts say a full-body exam is the best protection. Patients should take advantage of routine exams by asking their dentist, ophthalmologist, and gynecologist to look for pigmented lesions or other suspicious changes.

Detecting cancer early can be one of the most effective ways to stay healthy. If you are a young person trying to stay informed and maintain a healthy lifestyle and condition, you should check out the revolutionary, comprehensive and highly affordable individual health insurance solutions created by Precedent specifically for you. For more information, visit us on our website, [http://www.precedent.com]. We offer a unique and innovative suite of individual health insurance solutions, including highly competitive HSA-qualified plans and an unprecedented “real-time” application and acceptance experience.