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Cancer Information

Early Detection

Many cancers can be cured if caught early enough. Regular screenings are something you can do for yourself and for your loved ones. The American Cancer Society offers the following guidelines for people of average risk of developing cancer andwith no specific symptoms: To learn more, visit www.cancer.org and click on "Prevention and Early Detection."

Cancer-Related Checkup

For people having periodic health exams, a cancer-related check-up should include health counseling and – depending on age – might include examinations for cancers of the thyroid, oral cavity, skin, lymph nodes, testes or ovaries, as well as other non-malignant diseases. Specific tests include:

Breast Exams

  • Yearly mammograms starting at age 40 and continuing as long as a woman is in good health.
  • Clinical breast exams as part of a periodic health exam every three years during a woman’s 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over.
  • Any breast change should be reported promptly. Breast self exam is an option for women starting in their 20s – please ask your provider how to perform one properly.
  • Women at increased risk should discuss earlier screening and other surveillance and risk management options.

Breast Self-Exams






  • Lie down and place your right arm behind your head. (Figure 1)
  • Use the finger pads of the three middle fingers on your left hand to feel for lumps in the right breast. Use overlapping dimesized circular motions of the finger pads to feel the breast tissue. (Figure 2)
  • Use three different levels of pressure to feel all the breast tissue. Light pressure is needed to feel the tissue closest to the skin; medium pressure to feel a little deeper; and firm pressure to feel the tissue closest to the chest and ribs. A firm ridge in the lower curve of each breast is normal. If you’re not sure how hard to press, talk with your healthcare provider. Use each pressure level to feel the breast tissue before moving on to the next spot.
  • Move around the breast in an up-and-down pattern starting at an imaginary line drawn straight down your side from the underarm and moving across the breast to the middle ofthe chest bone. Be sure to check the entire breast areagoing down until you feel only ribs and up to the neck or collar bone.
  • There is some evidence to suggest that the up-and-down pattern (sometimes called the vertical pattern) is the most effective pattern for covering the entire breast and not missing any breast tissue.
  • Repeat the exam on your left breast, using the finger pads of the right hand.
  • While standing in front of a mirror with your hands pressing firmly down on your hips, look at your breasts for any changes of size, shape, contour, or dimpling. (The pressing down on the hips position contracts the chest wall muscles and enhances any breast changes.) (Figure 3)
  • Examine each underarm while sitting up or standing and with your arm only slightly raised so you can easily feel in this area. Raising your arm straight up tightens the tissue in this area and makes it very difficult to examine.

After an extensive review of the medical literature and input from an expert advisory group, the procedure above represents changes in previous procedure recommendations. This guide is not intended as a replacement for medical care. Breast self-examination is an option that many women choose. It should be done in addition to – not in place of – regular examination of your breasts by a doctor or other health care professional. If you choose to do self breast examination, you should ask your health care provider to make sure you are doing it properly. For complete diagnosis and treatment, see your doctor or callthe Vanderbilt Breast Center, (615) 322-2064.

Colon and Rectal Cancer

Beginning at age 50, men and women of average risk should begin the following:
  • Yearly fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT), flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years or a combination of annual FOBT or FIT with sigmoidoscopy every five years (preferred over either alone)
  • Double-contrast barium enema every five years
  • Colonoscopy every 10 years
Any positive test should be followed up with a colonoscopy.

Discuss beginning earlier screening if you have a personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps, a strong family history of either, a personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease or a family history of a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome.

Cervical Cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Association recently approved a new vaccine that protects against infection by types of the human papilloma virus (HPV) that cause cervical cancer.The vaccine is recommended for girls and women between the ages of 9 and 26. If you are between these ages, or if you have a daughter who is between these ages, talk to your doctor or pediatrician about the HPV vaccine.
  • All women should begin regular Pap tests by age 21 or within three years after onset of vaginal intercourse. Regular Pap tests should be done yearly; the newer liquid-based Pap test, every two years.
  • Beginning at age 30, women who do not have certain risk factors such as a weakened immune system or exposure to the estrogen drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth and who have had three normal Pap test results in arow may be screened every two to three years.
  • Women over 30 may also consider a Pap test plus the DNA test for infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV) every three years.
  • Women over 70 who have had three normal Pap tests in a row and no abnormal Pap tests in the past 10 years may choose to stop having screening. Women with a history of cervical cancer or certain risk factors should continue screening.


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This page was last updated September 20, 2006 and is maintained by Ryan Huber