Check It Out!

 

Although Joelda Kiehn knew the importance of cancer screening, the breast cancer survivor from McAllen, Texas, couldn't have foreseen the difference it would make for her.

 

Kiehn underwent successful breast cancer treatment at M. D. Anderson in February 1997 and returned to the institution's Cancer Prevention Center for a cancer screening eight months later. To her dismay, a melanoma (a type of skin cancer) was discovered.

 

When Kiehn first heard the news, she was surprised. "I knew the mole was there, but since it didn't hurt, I felt I shouldn't bother the doctor," Kiehn says.

 

Today, she urges anyone with concerns about skin cancer or other types of cancer to schedule the appropriate examinations with their physician.

 

After all, Kiehn knows the value first-hand. What began as a routine screening for the former cancer patient became instead a well-timed rescue. The melanoma was removed successfully, and Kiehn is once again disease-free. She also has returned to her usual lifestyle and her job at an electric utility company near McAllen.

 

"More than ever, I realize the importance of being screened for cancer," Kiehn says. "Even though it's scary to think a cancer might be found, it's important information to know. It's important to feel comfortable bringing up any health concern, no matter how minor it may seem."

 

Kiehn plans to continue regular cancer screening checkups for the rest of her life. "God gave me a loving husband who encouraged me to seek treatment for breast cancer at M. D. Anderson. He has continued to encourage me to have routine screenings, even though it is a day's drive from where I live," Kiehn says of her visits. "But I now know, it's worth the trip."

 

Although Kiehn acknowledges that the idea of an examination to detect cancer can be unsettling for many people, she firmly believes that regular screening is the key to successful treatment for anyone with cancer.

 

"Everyone should be checked," she says. "Cancer is not a death sentence. Finding out if there is a problem is the first step to finding the solution. Not knowing is the real risk."

 

Kiehn's story underscores the importance of undergoing routine cancer screenings.

 

Annual comprehensive cancer screening examinations are recommended for all adults. This practice often makes it possible to detect cancer early -- even for cancers that show few or no symptoms until the disease has progressed -- allowing the best chance for survival.

 

Specific guidelines exist to help individuals remain vigilant to the first signs of cancer. In this issue of Conquest, you'll find the latest in current screening recommendations for cancers of the breast, prostate, colon, ovary, skin, cervix and oral cavity, among other new developments in the early detection of cancer.

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