April is National Cancer Control Month. This month highlights advances in fighting cancer, including prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancer. One way to control cancer is to find cancer cells and get rid of them. Cancer screenings are available to help you find cancer cells at an early stage. The earlier the cancer is found, the better the prognosis.
In this video, a patient of Dr. Michael Hall talks about his journey with cancer and how important his patient-doctor relationship was. With Dr. Hall’s treatment plan, this patient is now cancer-free. We love hearing success stories like this.
Who’s at Risk?
While everyone is at risk for cancer, some people are at greater risk than others. Age is the greatest risk factor for cancer since nearly 80% of cancers are detected at age 55 and older. Also, people who use tobacco, drink heavily, are physically inactive, eat a poor diet, are regularly exposed to carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) in their occupation, or have prolonged and unprotected exposure to sunlight are all at increased risk for certain cancers.
Everyone should follow cancer prevention and screening guidelines. Those at the highest risk for specific cancers should pay close attention to symptoms and screening recommendations and should seek prompt medical attention if they occur. The latest screening guidelines recommended by the American Cancer Society can be found here: Early Detection of Cancer
Recently Diagnosed
If you or a loved one has been recently diagnosed with cancer, the best place to start is by learning as much information as you can from your loved one’s doctor, caregivers, and medical professionals.
According to many sources, it is helpful to use a list of questions as a guide to help you make the most informed decisions when speaking with a medical professional about your or your loved one’s treatment options:
- What type of cancer does my loved one have?
- How common is this type of cancer?
- Where exactly is the cancer located?
- What stage is this cancer, and what does that mean?
- Do medical experts recommend treatment?
- What kinds of treatments are used for this type of cancer?
- What are the side effects of these treatments?
- How will the treatments affect your current lifestyle?
- What will treatment likely cost, and will insurance cover it?
- What kind of lifestyle changes may help stay as healthy as possible?
- What is the chance of recovery?
It is also important to keep in mind that while it is important to take into account what your medical professional recommends as the best course of action, what you or your loved one thinks is equally important.
We Are Here For You
If you have concerns about a cancer diagnosis, please call (561) 622-6111 and make a consultation with Dr. Michael Hall, Radiation Oncologist at The Medical Group of South Florida. Dr. Michael Hall can help walk you through the various treatment options available to your unique situation.
Book a consultation with Dr. Hall today!