What Are The Most Curable Forms Of Cancer?

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Being told that you have cancer can be one of the most frightening moments in anyone’s life. Those who are diagnosed with a malignant tumour wonder if this news is a death sentence at worst, or a debilitating condition which may change their life forever. But those diagnosed with cancer must remember that some types of malignant tumours respond very well to treatment and when caught early, most forms of cancer are curable. Some of the most common forms of cancer are also very curable, thanks to impressive advances in technology over the decade. It is very important not to generalize about the curability of various forms of cancer. For example, while the five year survival rate for lung cancer is quite low, the prognosis for those diagnosed with breast, prostate, testicular and most skin cancers is actually very good. For women, the most curable form of the disease is breast cancer, while the prognosis is often excellent for men diagnosed with prostate or testicular cancer.

Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer most often strikes young men, between the age of 16 and 35. Of course, only a minority of men are ever diagnosed with testicular cancer. The most recent American statistics suggest that only 1 out of every
250 men will be diagnosed with testicular cancer at some point in their life. The reassuring news, however, is that 95 percent of people who are diagnosed end up surviving, as long as the cancer is detected in its early stages. This very high survival rate makes testicular cancer the most curable form of the disease among men. Yet American physicians estimate that 400 people die from testicular cancer each year in the United States, mainly because people do not look out for warning signs and fail to get an early diagnosis.

Testicular cancer, however, is not a silent killer, like lung or cervical cancer, since there are usually very obvious signs that something is wrong. The most common sign of testicular cancer is a small, hard and painless lump on the side of one testicle. In some cases, obvious swelling of one testicle can be a sign of cancer too, and doctors also ask men in the high-risk age range to look out for any changes in the texture of either testicle. Pain in the scrotum or abdomen is a less common symptom of testicular cancer. If you discover any of these symptoms, it is very important not to panic. A long list of other, less serious conditions can cause any of these warning signs, including epididymitis and testicular torsion. But you should always make an appointment with your family doctor if you detect a lump in your testicle.

All forms of cancer are most curable if detected early. In order to detect testicular cancer, men should perform a testicular exam once a month. The best time to do this is right after having taken a shower. Simply check all sides of both testicles with your fingers, in order to detect any lumps, hardening, swelling or tenderness. Always keep in mind that testicular cancer does not normally cause pain and the hard lump that might appear is also painless.

Treatment for testicular cancer depends on the stage of diagnosis, but it usually includes a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Doctors will remove the affected testicle, and may suggest both radiation and chemotherapy, if the cancer has spread. Men who must go through this treatment should not worry about losing fertility, as they can maintain this even with a single testicle.

Breast Cancer

While testicular cancer is the most curable form of the disease among young men, breast cancer can affect women at any age, but can be treated very effectively. The key with breast cancer is to detect it as soon as possible. Fortunately, many governments will actively encourage early detection by reminding women to get a regular mammogram. In fact, in Canada, the Province of Québec’s government sends out letters to women over 50 years of age each year, reminding them to make an appointment for a mammogram. These exams are completely free of charge, as they are covered by Canada’s socialized health care system.

While mammograms are helpful in detecting breast cancer in the earliest stage, women are encouraged to perform self-exams on a regular basis, in order to detect any changes. Breast cancer usually appears as a firm lump in one breast, or in the armpits. The reason that it can appear as far away as in the armpit is because the breast tissue actually extends all the way from thecollarbone to the centre of the chest area. In most cases, this lump does not cause any pain. Women may also detect a change in the size of one or both breasts, swelling or redness or even scaling of the nipple. It is very important to remember that discovering a lump does not automatically mean that you have cancer, but it certainly should convince you to make an appointment with your family doctor who will also examine it, and may decide to register you for a mammogram or an ultrasound.

Breast cancer most often strikes women who are over 50 years of age and this is when it is especially important to have a mammogram at least once every two years. Younger women, however, should perform monthly self-exams at home, starting from the age of puberty. Some women also have a higher risk of developing breast cancer, including those who gave birth to their first child after age 30 and those who never had children. A family history of ovarian cancer may also increase one’s risk of developing breast cancer.

Treatment for breast cancer detected at an early age is usually very effective. The five year survival rate now stands at around 86 percent. This simply means that almost 9 out of 10 people diagnosed with breast cancer will be alive five years after they first receive the news from their doctor. There are many different types of treatment, depending on the stage and location of the tumour. Surgery is common, and this can involve a lumpectomy and a mastectomy. A lumpectomy means that the surgeon will only remove the tumour and surrounding tissue, but not the entire breast. A mastectomy, on the other hand, involves removing the affected breast and—in rare cases—the muscles underneath the breast. Doctors may also recommend chemotherapy, following surgery, and this is usually done if there is a belief that the cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes. Radiation therapy is used to treat breast cancer and is usually very effective in ensuring that there is no recurrence of the disease in 70 percent of the patients.

Prostate Cancer

While testicular cancer usually affects young men and while women at all ages should be on the look out for symptoms of breast cancer, prostate cancer is most common among men over 60 years of age. The survival rate for men diagnosed with Stage I and Stage II prostate cancers—the earliest form of the disease—is approximately 90 percent, thus making it highly curable. At Stage III, curability decreases to 50 percent.

The best way to detect prostate cancer as early as possible is through a digital rectal exam. All men—regardless of age—should visit their doctor on a regular basis. But those over 60 years of age may also undergo a digital rectal exam, during their annual check-up. This exam is never very pleasant, but it is very important in detecting prostate cancer, as there are often no obvious symptoms during the earliest stages. During the exam, the doctor will use a glove and will place his finger into the patient’s rectum, to check the state of the prostate gland. The most obvious signs of cancer are lumps on the prostate gland and can be easily detected through this exam.

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer can strike both men and women, and at any age. The most obvious risk factor includes regular exposure to UV rays, by sunbathing between 10:00am and 2:00pm. There are several types of skin cancers, but basal cell carcinomas are both the most common and most easily treatable. In fact, these form 75 percent of all skin cancers diagnosed in the United States. What makes basal cell carcinomas so curable is that they do not usually metastasize. These cancerous growths appear on the head or neck, in 8 out of 10 patients. In the majority of cases, doctors will surgically remove the cancerous nodule, or growth, which usually has a pearly appearance and can be white, pink or brown in colour. In a minority of cases, doctors may treat basal cell carcinomas with radiation therapy and sometimes even with topical chemotherapy, which is generally applied directly to the skin, rather than taken orally.

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is always frightening for the patient. But it is important to keep in mind that some of the most common cancers—including breast, prostate, testicular and skin cancer—respond very well to treatment and are seen as highly curable. The key in all cases is early detection.

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