Perhaps the most important weapon against cancer is prevention. The medical community has established secondary prevention protocols for the early diagnosis of types of cancer, which occur most frequently in the general population.
The earlier a malignancy is diagnosed and treated, the better the results. The malignancies for which prevention programs have been established, are:
Breast cancer
The screening is performed on women 40 -74 years old, with a mammogram every other year. Clinical examination and ultrasound are recommended from the age of 25 years and older. In high-risk women, preventive screening with mammography begins at an earlier age.
Cervical cancer
It is recommended for women 21-65 years old. At the ages of 21-30 years, a cytological smear test (Pap smear) is performed every three years. In the age group over 30 years, a combination of cytological and HPV DNA testing is performed every three years.
Colon cancer
In Greece, the audit is carried out in one of two ways:
- Fecal Immunohistochemistry test (FIT), Feacal Immunohistochemistry test (FIT), from the 50th year, annually, for 3 years. After that, the examination is repeated every 2 years, until 75 years. When there is a family history or other risk factor, the examination is carried out annually from the 40th year.
- Colonoscopy, from 50 to 75 years, for 5 years. When there is a family history or other high risk factor, screening begins in the 40th year and occurs more frequently.
Cancer in the lung
A low-dose CT scan is performed annually, in smokers aged 50-80 years, as well as in people who have quit smoking in the past 15 years.
Prostate cancer
Periodic blood testing of the PSA indicator, as well as finger examination of the prostate, is recommended in men aged 40-70 years.