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Top 3 Most Curable Cancers

Studies say that these cancers are the most likely to be cured.

By Tobias GillotPublished 5 years ago 2 min read
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According to data from the National Cancer Institute, more than 600,000 people in the United States died from cancer over the past year. Although adopting healthier lifestyle habits can significantly reduce an individual’s risk for developing cancer, early prevention and screening methods are essential for successful treatment and cure.

Identifying early stage cancer enables doctors to work proactively to treat and potentially cure the disease. As a result, early detection greatly increases survival rates among a variety of cancers. To determine survival odds for each type of cancer, doctors refer to a five year survival rate.

According to the American Cancer Society, five year survival rates are percentages of individuals who have been cancer-free for five years after diagnosis. So, what are the cancers with the highest five-year survival rates, and how can you catch them early?

Breast cancer

Early stage breast cancer (stages zero and one) have high five-year survival rates, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. There are two different kinds of stage zero breast cancer: ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). DCIS occurs when breast cells begin to develop in the breast ducts, while LCIS occurs when abnormal cells develop in the lobules.

The five year survival rate for stage zero breast cancer is 100 percent, while survival rates for stage one tumors under two centimeters is close to 100 percent with immediate treatment.

If your family members have a history of breast cancer, talk to your doctor about early screening methods. Your doctor may recommend annual mammograms at a younger age, regular breast exams, or a full body MRI scan for cancer. In addition, your doctor may prescribe Tamoxifen, a hormone therapy medication that helps prevent the growth of cancer cells.

Testicular cancer

Testicular cancer is often curable during its early stages or before the tumor has spread to other parts of the body. When testicular cancer is diagnosed, doctors act immediately to surgically remove one or both testicles with a tumor. Combined with surgery, radiation or chemotherapy are effective in treating testicular cancer.

The Journal of Clinical Oncology has described the treatment of testicular cancer as one of the greatest achievements in medicine because of cisplatin, a chemo drug approved in 1978, which boosted survival rates to 95 percent. However, early detection and treatment can raise the five-year survival rate to 98 percent.

The American Cancer Society recommends regular self-exams to maintain awareness of testicular cancer. If you find a lump during a self-exam, make sure to see a doctor immediately.

Prostate cancer

Because prostate tumors typically grow at slow rates, they often aren’t considered harmful enough to require treatment, resulting in a 100 percent five-year survival rate. In fact, a 2016 study found the same survival rates among men with prostate cancer randomly assigned to surgery, radiation, or monitoring. However, surgery or radiation cut the risk of the disease growing in half.

Men with prostate cancer can lead normal lives without experiencing complications. While treatment does not increase the five year survival rate of prostate cancer, researchers predict that benefits may surface within 15 to 20 years post-treatment.

Early screening measures for prostate cancer typically include a digital rectal exam or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. Doctors look for abnormalities in texture, shape, or size of the gland, or high amounts of PSA in the bloodstream to help identify prostate cancer.

Cancer can be easily treated and potentially cured when it’s diagnosed at an early stage. All in all, early prevention and screening can significantly raise five year survival rates among different types of cancer.

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