'Doctor Day' Puts Spotlight on Disease Prevention
Public health officials are urging Americans not to put off cancer screening tests and other important medical care as part of the second national "Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day" Tuesday.
"Preventable diseases take a terrible toll on our nation, especially in minority communities," said US Secretary of Health and Human Services (news - web sites) Tommy Thompson. "'Doctor Day' is about bringing people to health care early, when diseases can be prevented or treated successfully. It is also about creating awareness, providing information and motivating Americans to make healthier lifestyle choices."
, 百拇医药
The focus of the day is to encourage people to visit a health care provider for a check-up and screening, or make an appointment for themselves or a loved one to get needed preventive care.
The Earlier the Better
Many people think of checking blood pressure and cholesterol when they visit the doctor, but cancer screening is also an important part of preventive care. Finding a cancer early, before it has spread to other parts of the body, can often improve the chances of survival, because early-stage cancers are generally easier to treat.
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"Screening can have a very big impact on the ultimate outcome (of disease)" said Greg Schneider, MD, of UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
The American Cancer Society (news - web sites) believes that suffering from many cancers -- including cancers of the breast, colon, rectum, prostate, cervix, skin, testicles and mouth -- can be reduced through early detection when treatments are more successful.
For example, colon cancer, the nation's second leading cancer killer, can be prevented with regular screening. Sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy can find and remove colon polyps before they can progress into colon cancer.
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When caught early, colon cancer has a five-year survival rate of 90%. Unfortunately, only about 37% of colon cancers are found at this stage. More often, the disease has already spread to other parts of the body, making it much more difficult to treat.
Mammograms can detect breast tumors that are too small to be felt by a physical exam, and several studies have shown that regular mammograms reduce deaths from breast cancer.
"If a cancer is diagnosed early, the woman is more likely to be able to save her breast and avoid chemotherapy," said Marilyn Leitch, MD, director of the Southwestern Center for Breast Care at UT Southwestern.
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Minorities Especially Affected
"Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day" is part of the federal government's "Closing the Health Gap" initiative, which is designed to improve health in minority populations.
Some racial and ethnic minority groups have disproportionately higher rates of many diseases -- including cancer. African American men, for example, have a 20% greater incidence of cancer than white men, and a 40% higher cancer death rate. Hispanics have higher rates of stomach, liver, and cervical cancer than whites.
, 百拇医药
But because of poverty, lack of insurance, or lack of knowledge about the health care system, many people in minority populations don't get the care they need.
This year, the federal government has partnered with more than 400 national, state and local organizations in all 50 states and Washington DC and Puerto Rico to raise awareness of the importance of preventive care. Some of the activities that will be going on include health fairs with free screenings, free transportation to medical facilities, and assistance applying for Medicaid and other government health programs.
People who want information about activities in specific communities can visit the Closing the Health Gap Web site, or call 1-800-444-6472., http://www.100md.com
"Preventable diseases take a terrible toll on our nation, especially in minority communities," said US Secretary of Health and Human Services (news - web sites) Tommy Thompson. "'Doctor Day' is about bringing people to health care early, when diseases can be prevented or treated successfully. It is also about creating awareness, providing information and motivating Americans to make healthier lifestyle choices."
, 百拇医药
The focus of the day is to encourage people to visit a health care provider for a check-up and screening, or make an appointment for themselves or a loved one to get needed preventive care.
The Earlier the Better
Many people think of checking blood pressure and cholesterol when they visit the doctor, but cancer screening is also an important part of preventive care. Finding a cancer early, before it has spread to other parts of the body, can often improve the chances of survival, because early-stage cancers are generally easier to treat.
, 百拇医药
"Screening can have a very big impact on the ultimate outcome (of disease)" said Greg Schneider, MD, of UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
The American Cancer Society (news - web sites) believes that suffering from many cancers -- including cancers of the breast, colon, rectum, prostate, cervix, skin, testicles and mouth -- can be reduced through early detection when treatments are more successful.
For example, colon cancer, the nation's second leading cancer killer, can be prevented with regular screening. Sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy can find and remove colon polyps before they can progress into colon cancer.
, http://www.100md.com
When caught early, colon cancer has a five-year survival rate of 90%. Unfortunately, only about 37% of colon cancers are found at this stage. More often, the disease has already spread to other parts of the body, making it much more difficult to treat.
Mammograms can detect breast tumors that are too small to be felt by a physical exam, and several studies have shown that regular mammograms reduce deaths from breast cancer.
"If a cancer is diagnosed early, the woman is more likely to be able to save her breast and avoid chemotherapy," said Marilyn Leitch, MD, director of the Southwestern Center for Breast Care at UT Southwestern.
, 百拇医药
Minorities Especially Affected
"Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day" is part of the federal government's "Closing the Health Gap" initiative, which is designed to improve health in minority populations.
Some racial and ethnic minority groups have disproportionately higher rates of many diseases -- including cancer. African American men, for example, have a 20% greater incidence of cancer than white men, and a 40% higher cancer death rate. Hispanics have higher rates of stomach, liver, and cervical cancer than whites.
, 百拇医药
But because of poverty, lack of insurance, or lack of knowledge about the health care system, many people in minority populations don't get the care they need.
This year, the federal government has partnered with more than 400 national, state and local organizations in all 50 states and Washington DC and Puerto Rico to raise awareness of the importance of preventive care. Some of the activities that will be going on include health fairs with free screenings, free transportation to medical facilities, and assistance applying for Medicaid and other government health programs.
People who want information about activities in specific communities can visit the Closing the Health Gap Web site, or call 1-800-444-6472., http://www.100md.com