What exactly is Cancer?
The American Cancer Society (aka ACS), defines Cancer as a name of various diseases where cells in certain parts of a body start growing abnormally uncontrollably. There's many types of cancer, most cancers are named by the part of the body where they begin to attack. An example is lung cancer, where the cancer starts in the lungs. Left untreated, cancer results nearly always with death. Regular checks & finding the cancer early on are two huge steps in overcoming cancer.
What screenings or checks should be done?
It is critical that men and women get screenings and checks done, especially as they get older in life. Being scared is normal, but delaying checks and screenings can cost you your life. Do NOT be afraid to be proactive. The sooner cancer is found, the sooner it can be treated or defeated.
* Breast Cancer- monthly self examinations, yearly mammogram for women age 40 and older
* Cervical Cancer- Yearly Pap Smears
* Colon & Rectal Cancer- Colonoscopy
* Prostate Cancer- Digital rectal exam
* Oral Cancer- Regular dental check-ups
* Skin Cancer- Self examinations, examinations by a dermatologist
If you have a family history of cancer, it is even more important to be proactive about regular screenings. Prevention and early detection are the key to fighting and beating cancer!
I have Cancer, now what?
Nobody looks forward to hearing the doctor say that they have cancer. However, the reality is that it happens every single day to about 32,877 people!! So if you think that "it won't happen to me," you might want to rethink. The good thing is that you aren't alone! Obviously your doctor and nurses are a great resource to find answers to any of your questions or concerns, as well as websites and the Internet. Look to family and friends for moral, physical, and financial support -- the chances are that some of your family or friends have either been in your position or know someone in your similar position. Support groups and counselors can also be a good resource to your mental well being. Don't spend time worrying or panicking, devote your time and energy towards fighting cancer and getting better!
There are many trusted medical sites if you need expert
medical advice. One of my favorite sites is WebMD.com. This site explains
everything you need to know before making a decision. They even give you their
fees, so you’re not left in the dark. But beware: not all sites are trusted
medical sites. If 99% of their physicians have names you can’t read, chances
are- you’ll be chatting with someone from India -with a different set of
certification rules.
When searching trusted medical sites I came across
the Mayo Clinic. I enjoyed navigating this site; it was simple and had all the
information I needed. It did not offer medical advice like some of the other
sites, but you could search for a doctor and get health insurance quotes. I found this quite useful, as the other
trusted medical sites didn’t offer any information on health insurance. The Mayo Clinic
also offers insightful articles on health topics that you can choose from.
Other trusted medical sights did not offer health news. This was an asset that
I found very informative.
Another positive aspect of the Mayo Clinic is that you can search
for a variety of doctors, including dentists, and other medical professionals. As
one of the trusted medical sites, it includes detailed information
about your provider. This information may include the provider’s office hours, hospital
affiliations, and credentials. Some medical providers may include extra information
such as videos, downloadable forms, photos, and short descriptions of their
services. This is a trusted medical site that you can feel safe and secure with
when searching for a primary care provider. You can read reviews from actual
patients to help you in your decision making process.
There are many reasons why people are searching the internet
for trusted medical sites. Perhaps they just changed insurance plans, and they
need to locate a provider that’s covered under that plan. Maybe they’re moving
to a new town where they will have no choice but to find a new physician for
their family. Or maybe a physician has been highly recommended and they want to
find more information on this doctor. If you have a great doctor, maybe you
want to leave a positive review.
Both the Mayo Clinic and WebMD is also a place for doctors. With a quick
registration, a physician can enter their business information. This information
is kept on record so that others who are searching trusted medical sites will
see their name on the list. On the list of trusted medical sites this one is
clean and simple to use. Some sites are too busy, while this one is straight
and to the point.
Among some of the other top trusted medical sites are : WrongDiagnosis.com,
WebMD, and HealthCentral. Health central is different in
that it offers different trusted medical sites that you can choose from. They
also offer videos, health news, and other multi media content- available 24/7.
Times have changed since our parents had to search for a new physician. They
had to thumb through telephone books or ask someone who their doctor was. Its
twenty ten and trusted medical sites are right at our fingertips!