Cancer Prevention, Screening,

& Early Detection

Prepared by:
Mr. Charlie C. Falguera, RN, MAN
Three Interrelated Activities Involved in
Cancer Prevention & Control:
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention or Early Detection
Screening Programs

Primary Prevention
Involves measures to avoid or reduce
exposure to carcinogens.
Activities are aimed at intervention before
pathologic changes has begun.
Helps to reduce cancer risk through
alteration of lifestyle behaviors that
eliminate or reduce exposure to
carcinogens.
Primary Prevention
Measures include:
Following a healthful diet
Adapting to a more physically active lifestyle
Limiting exposure to sun & other sources of UV
radiation
Modifying sexual practices
Decreasing exposure to environmental &
occupational carcinogens.
Avoiding smoking & alcohol consumption
Secondary Prevention
Also known as Early Detection
Involves diagnosing a precancerous lesion or a
cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage.
Methods of early detection are:
Inspection
Palpation
Use of tests or procedures
Secondary Prevention
Inspection is useful in identifying lesions of the
skin, lips, mouth, larynx, external genitalia,
cervix.
Palpation determines lumps or nodules in the
breast, mouth, salivary glands, thyroid,
subcutaneous tissue, anus, rectum, prostate,
testes, ovaries, and uterus
Secondary Prevention
Tests or procedures include mammograms,
Papanicolaou (Pap) smears, occult blood
testing of feces, endoscopy, radiologic imaging
procedures

As a result of early detection:
Premalignant lesions maybe arrested, removed, or
reversed
Cancer treatment can be started earlier while the
cancer is in a stage more amenable to treatment.
Screening
Identifies high-risk groups of people more likely to
have cancer or precancerous lesions.
Criteria for screening:
Population to be screened has a hugh incidence of the
disease
The disease is detectable in its presymptomatic stage
Prognosis is poor if diagnosis is delayed until manifestations
appear
Effective treatment is available for disease that is diagnosed
early.
There is an effective test for screening.
Potential benefit of screening outweigh its potential risks &
costs.
Warning Signs for Cancer
C - Change in bowel or bladder habits
A - A sore that doesnt heal
U - Unusual bleeding or discharge
T - Thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere
I - Indigestion or dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing)
O - Obvious change in wart or mole
N - Nagging cough or hoarseness of voice

U - Unexplained anemia
S - Sudden weight loss
Approaches to Cancer
Prevention
Three Main Approaches to Cancer
Prevention:
Education
Regulation
Host modification
Approaches to Cancer
Prevention
Education
A clients health beliefs are determinants of learning
readiness when information is available. These
include:
Clients perception of susceptibility to developing
cancer
Beliefs about the harmful or beneficial
consequences of lifestyle behaviors
Perceptions about the benefits of prevention and
early detection
Approaches to Cancer
Prevention
Regulation
Methods of regulation includes:
Prohibiting/Control the sale of tobacco and
alcohol especially to minors
Limiting smoking in public places
Imposing excise taxes
Regulating the use of manufactured carcinogens
Prohibiting carcinogens in foods.
Approaches to Cancer
Prevention
Host Modification
Aims to alter the bodys internal environment
to decrease the risk of cancer or to reverse a
carcinogenic process.
This includes:
Vaccines to immunize against some cancers,
including cervical cancer, melanoma, kidney
cancer, colon cancer, & pancreatic cancer
Chemoprevention use of non-cytotoxic
nutrients, pharmacologic agents, or both to
prevent or reverse carcinogenesis.