PREVENTING CANCER Aletris Center Scottsdale, AZ
Cancer, the second leading cause of death in the United States, refers to a group of diseases in which an individual's own cells grow out of control. Current estimates state that thirty percent of all Americans will develop some kind of cancer in their lifetimes. The most common forms are cancer of the skin, lungs, colon and rectum, breast, prostate, and uterus.
The exact cause of cancer has not yet been discovered. Evidence suggests, however, that cancer could result from complex interactions of viruses, genetic make-up, immune status and exposure to other risk factors. Additionally, exposure to environmental toxins has been found to be a major contributor to cancer.
At ALETRIS, we believe in thinking about cancer risk before a diagnosis is ever made. Many of our patients come to us with concerns because of a strong family history, and we encourage each of our patients to take a proactive stance against cancer. Lifestyle factors, nutritional deficiencies, weakened immunity, and impaired liver detoxification can be assessed and corrected.
We often encourage patients to run tumor markers or imaging to rule out cancer in a particular area, especially if they have a genetic history or lifestyle that points to a specific concern. Often, the stress and worry of potential cancer can be just as damaging to a patient as the actual growth of a tumor.
We believe that diligent follow-up is critical to proper prevention, and we may recommend preventative imaging such as thermography and colonoscopy along with regular skin evaluations with a dermatologist.
Labs/imaging for cancer prevention include:
Liver detoxification
2, 16 OH-E2 urine metabolites
Tumor markers
Breast thermography/mammography
Colonoscopy
Genetic testing
