“You have cancer.”
Why Main Street Hospital Is Your Ally In the Fight Against Cancer
Unfortunately, the odds are very good that you or someone you love will someday hear those devastating words – if they havenʼt already. One in every two men and one in every three women will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime.
Thatʼs the reason our hospital provides a comprehensive range of cancer-fighting services. We have the expertise, equipment and medical resources you and your family need for detecting and treating cancer as well as lowering your risk for this all-too-common disease.
Detecting Cancer Annual Physical: Seeing your personal physician once a year can help detect cancer early, when treatment success rates are much higher. Your doctor can check for any changes in your body that may indicate cancer of the skin, thyroid, oral cavity, lymph nodes, testes and ovaries. You can also talk to your doctor to learn how to perform self-exams for breast cancer and testicular cancer. If you currently donʼt have a primary care physician, call or visit our website for a list of primary care physicians on our medical staff.
Regular Screenings: Here are some of the cancer screening guidelines recommended for early detection. • Breast Cancer: A yearly mammogram starting at age 40 for women in good health. A clinical breast exam is recommended every two to three years for women in their 20s and 30s, and every year starting at age 40. • Colorectal Cancer: Beginning at age 50, men and women should have a Colonoscopy every 10 years OR a Flexible Sigmoidoscopy every 5 years. Ask your doctor about other alternative screenings. • Cervical Cancer: Ask you doctor how often you need to have a Pap test. • Prostate Cancer: Men should talk to their doctor about screening for prostate cancer at age 50, or earlier if the risk is higher.
␣Imaging Tests: We provide a full range of diagnostic equipment used to detect cancer, including ultrasound, MRI, CT Scan, X-ray and mammography. These provide a non-invasive way for your doctor to check your bones and internal organs.
Lab Tests: A sample of blood, urine, fluid or tissue is taken, then sent to the hospital laboratory for analysis. Doctors look for any abnormalities that may indicate cancer.
Biopsy: When an imaging test cannot make a definitive diagnosis of cancer, a biopsy is often performed. During a biopsy, body tissue or a sample of cells is removed and then analyzed in a lab. In addition to determining if the cells are cancerous, a biopsy can provide information about where the cancer originated and how aggressive the cancer is.
Treating Cancer
In addition to surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the techniques most often used to treat cancer.
Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to kill the fast-growing cancer cells in your body. The drugs used depend on the type of cancer, its stage of advancement and the health of the patient. Chemotherapy can be used as the primary treatment, or in combination with surgery and/or radiation.
Radiation therapy uses intense energy to damage and destroy cancer cells. X- rays are the most common type of radiation therapy, but other sources of energy can be used. New technologies pinpoint the radiation therapy in order to limit the damage to healthy cells.
Any diagnosis of cancer causes worry and concern. Fighting the disease places even more stress on the body. Both chemotherapy and radiation treatments can produce side effects that are often severe, including nausea, weakness, fatigue, fever, lack of appetite and loss of hair. When you are being treated for cancer, the last thing you need to do is add more stress to an already stressful situation. By choosing to have your cancer treatments at our hospital, you can avoid the extra burden of traveling to an out-of-town facility. Family and friends will be nearby, better able to give you their emotional support.
Lowering Your Risk of Cancer
The causes of cancer are many and complex. There is no known cure, but there are several practical steps you can take to reduce your risk of cancer. These include stopping the use of tobacco, eating a healthy diet, starting a regular exercise program and maintaining a healthy weight. If you need assistance or guidance in making these lifestyle changes, contact us for more information.