Question

Screening for early detection of lung cancer is a new concept. How do you feel about performing this screening for clients who are current or former smokers?

What would you advise a man over 50 who is reluctant to be screened for prostate cancer?

Answer 1

Screening for early detection of lung cancer is a new concept. How do you feel about performing this screening for clients who are current or former smokers?

ANSWER:

Screening is an examination tests performed to find disease before symptoms begin. The goal of screening is to detect disease at its earliest and most treatable stage. Screening tests may include laboratory tests to check blood and other fluids, genetic tests that look for inherited genetic markers linked to disease, and imaging tests that produce pictures of the inside of the body.

American Cancer Society guidelines recommend yearly lung cancer screening for people who meet certain criteria that put them at higher risk for developing the disease. These higher risk patients are aged 55 to 74 years and are in fairly good health, currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years, and have a smoking history equivalent to a pack a day for 30 years.

Medicare will now cover lung cancer screening with LDCT (low-dose computed tomography) once per year for Medicare beneficiaries who meet all of the following criteria:

• They are age 55-77, and are either current smokers or have quit smoking within the last 15 years.
• They have a tobacco smoking history of at least 30 "pack years" (an average of one pack a day for 30 years).

So, preforming this screening for clients who are current or former smokers are very much needed for early detection of cases and it will help in treatment also if detected the case early.

And it is also emphasizes that screening is not a substitute for quitting smoking. The most effective way to lower lung cancer risk is to stay away from smoking.

What would you advise a man over 50 who is reluctant to be screened for prostate cancer?

ANSWER:

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men with an estimation of 191,930 men in the United States diagnosed with prostate cancer in a year. Around 60% of cases are diagnosed in men over 65. The average age of diagnosis is 66 years. The disease rarely occurs in those younger than 40. Most prostate cancers (90%) are found when the disease is in only the prostate and nearby organs.

So after analysing the statistics of prostate cancer screening test in a must for a man of 50 years. Encourage the man who refuse to do the screening as the test will not harm him and will help him in early detection and diagnosis. Early diagnosis will help in treatment plan and management of the disease. Hence it is all for the benefit of the man.

Provide psychological support to perform the test needed. Inform the steps of procedure, all the details and needed information about the screening test should be provided in order to reduce the fear and anxiety of the man. Inform what might be the possible consequences if not detected such cases in time. Inform that as he is over 50 years of age such test is much needed for him