Eating healthy foods, being active on a regular basis,
limiting alcohol consumption, following sun protection
guidelines, not smoking, and avoiding second-hand smoke are all
important parts of a healthy lifestyle. However, even people
living healthy lifestyles can get cancer, so it's also
important to be aware of, and follow, cancer-screening
guidelines.
Screening is checking for the disease through tests or
examinations by a health-care professional. Screening may help
to find cancer early and, in most cases, finding cancer early
increases the chances of successful treatment. But, there isn't
one screening test that works for all types of cancer.
Talking openly with your doctor about your cancer risk and
participating in cancer screening are part of living a healthy
lifestyle.
The Canadian Cancer Society screening recommendations:
-  Both men and women over age 50 should participate in
colorectal cancer screening at least every two years. For skin
cancer, all ages should learn what to look for and how to check
for moles and skin irregularities.
-  For breast cancer screening, all women over age 50
should have a mammogram every two years. Once over the age of
40, a clinical breast examination by a trained health-care
professional should be conducted every two years; and breast
self-examinations should be performed to learn what is normal
for their breasts. For cervical cancer screening, all women who
are, or who have been, sexually active should undergo screening
every one to three years.
-  Men over age 15 should regularly perform testicular
self-examinations in order to discover any changes. Men over
age 50 should discuss the potential benefits and risks of
prostate cancer screening with their doctor.
Northern Life is running monthly health-care columns supplied by the  Sudbury Heart Health Coalition. When you want to know more about cancer, phone the Canadian Cancer Society's Cancer Information Service at 1-888-939-3333 or visit www.cancer.ca .
