but not all family members are stricken (Brock, 1993). The outlook for people with cancer has improved steadily since the beginning of the 20th century, when few cancer victims survived for very long. Today, 51% of cancer patients survive for 5 years or more, and the American Cancer Society estimates that an additional 25% of cancer deaths could be prevented with earlier diagnosis and treatment (ACS homepage). However, one in three people in the United States will eventually develop some type of cancer, so routine screening for early detection should be an important part of everyone’s lives (Ruddon, 1995). The earlier cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the chance of it’s being cured. Some cancers, such as breast and skin cancers, can be detected by routine self-examination before they become too serious, while others are only detected by more complicated methods. Either way, early diagnosis appears to be the key to survival. ...
