The sooner most forms of cancer are diagnosed and treated, the better the chances of recovery. Cancer often runs in families, and generally, the more blood relatives you have with cancer, the greater your risk will be. Cancers of the breast, colon, and rectum are especially likely to occur within families. Many of the risks for developing cancer can be modified or eliminated, however, if proper screening is done.
Modern techniques can be very effective at identifying many types of cancer.
X-ray techniques have greatly improved and now use less radiation and provide better pictures than ever before. Mammograms are recommended every one to two years for women over forty and every year for women over fifty. Regular pap smears to detect cervical cancer are recommended for all women. People over forty with a family history of colon or rectal cancer are advised to have a yearly examination of the lower colon and rectum. Annual prostate examinations are also recommended for all men over fifty and over the age of 40 for African-American men or those with a family history of prostate cancer.