Only a few cancers have official screening guidelines although developing such guidelines is a top priority for researchers and cancer agencies. Here is some latest information on screening tests and the progress made on developing tests for specific cancers:
Colon Cancer:
Fecal occult blood test- Your stool is testes for invisible amounts of blood
Sigmoidoscopy-, The lower colon is visualized using a scope
Colonoscopy- The whole colon is visualized.
A fecal occult blood test is suggested annually by doctors for men above the age of 50 and sooner if they're at high risk. Also get a sigmoidoscopy every 5 years.
Prostate Cancer:
Rectal exams- "finger tests" where the physician feels your prostate
PSA tests- The level of a substance produced by the prostate is measured in your blood.
Lung Cancer:
No recent studies firmly support the use of imaging technology-like X-rays or CAT scans for the detection of lung cancer. Some research groups are actively studying the effectiveness and safety of such technique. Low-radiation and high resolution CAT scans screen the lungs of smokers for early development of lung cancer.
Mouth Cancer:
Tobacco and alcohol are the most common causes of Oral cancer. Though their cure rate is good when they're caught early it is very poor when allowed to advance. If you go to a dentist regularly he/ she should be screening this.
Testicles Cancer:
Although rare, this cancer usually hits men aged between 15-35. Testicular cancer is highly curable if caught at an early stage. Men diagnosis this early by performing a monthly self-exam-that is, by feeling manually for lumps in the testicles.
Anal Cancer:
This is of particular concern to gay and bisexual men, anal cancer is similar to cervical cancer and is caused by a sexually transmitted virus-the human papillomavirus.
Penile Cancer:
The cause for this may be more about hygiene or sexual promiscuity than the presence of extra skin. This is a rare less common in circumcised than uncircumcised. When doing your testicle self-examination, go ahead and peel back your foreskin and look for anything unusual going on-growths, discoloration, and report any suspicious findings to your primary care doctor.
