These Cancer Screenings Save Lives. Are They on Your Calendar in 2024?
Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
Many people are behind on at least one routine cancer screening. Are you? Here's a roundup of preventive screenings and self-exams to help you get ahead in the new year.
I had no signs, no symptoms. The only way my cancer was found was because of a mammogram. … It was an invasive cancer that was growing at a very quick rate. I am grateful that I was able to have a mammogram and catch it quickly and get into my treatment quickly. And right now, I am cancer-free.
One minute we are wrapping up 2023, next thing you know the clock strikes midnight and there are thousands of New Year's resolutions being put in place. The gyms are flooded with new members and people are watching what they eat.
While establishing healthy routines is important, we may be forgetting one of the most important steps to a healthy life: preventive cancer screenings. According to the Prevent Cancer Foundation, 65% of Americans 21 and older report not being current on at least one routine cancer screening.
Did you know that yearly preventive cancer screenings greatly reduce the mortality rate for cancers such as colon, breast, and lung cancer? Cancer screenings can help find cancer early, when it may be more easily treated. Screening tests are available for some types of cancer, but not all. For certain cancers, self-exams can also be a helpful practice.
Every person's healthcare journey is unique, and no one knows your body better than you do. It is always recommended to speak with your healthcare provider about what screenings may be important for you and when to get them. January is a great time to schedule any necessary appointments with your healthcare provider for your annual cancer screenings.
Use this checklist as a guide:
January: Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
As we ring in the new year and recognize Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, there is no better time to schedule a cervical cancer screening. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends women get their first Pap smear at age 21, with recurring tests every 3 years. Women between the ages of 30 and 65 are encouraged to also get an HPV (human papilloma virus) test with the Pap smear every 3 years.
Did You Know?
An increase in Pap tests has significantly reduced new cases and deaths from cervical cancer over the last 4 decades. According to the CDC, as many as 93% of cervical cancers could be prevented through HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening. Learn about cervical cancer risk factors, signs, and symptoms.
March: Colorectal Cancer Awareness
While the shamrocks are blooming, keep on top o' your screenings. Don’t let your luck run dry this year and schedule your colorectal cancer screening. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that people between the ages of 45 and 75 are regularly screened for colorectal cancer.
There are a few different types of colorectal cancer screenings: stool tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and a CT colonography. Talk to your primary care provider to learn which test is right for you.
Note: If you are between the ages of 76 and 85, ask your healthcare provider about your individual needs. The USPSTF recommends colorectal cancer screening for people in this age range as determined by their doctor.
What Are the Risk Factors, Signs & Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer?
April: Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
April is a great reminder to perform regular testicular self-exams. According to the CDC, testicular cancer rates are highest among men between the ages of 20 and 39. It is recommended that men perform self-exams of their testicles when they shower to feel around for any lumps or abnormalities.
Did you know?
Most men find their own testicular cancers. Learn about testicular cancer risk factors, signs, and symptoms.
May: Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month
April showers bring May flowers. As we gear up to smell the roses and spend the upcoming summer months outside, it is so important to schedule a routine skin exam. These exams look for moles, birthmarks, and skin lesions that appear abnormal in size, color, or texture. Any abnormalities may be biopsied and sent to the lab for examination.
Monthly skin checks can be done easily at home between doctors’ appointments. Always alert your provider if you think your moles have changed since your last appointment.
Note: May is also ocular (eye) melanoma awareness month. Ophthalmologists can check for this rare eye cancer during routine eye exams. Imaging tests like eye ultrasounds or angiograms can also help doctors diagnose eye melanoma.
Do You Know These ABCDEs for Skin Checks?
September: Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Fall is here and change is in the air. Have you talked with your doctor about the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening? If not, now is a good time to ask if it’s right for you. Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer among men in the United States.
The decision to get screened depends on several factors. These include family history, age, race, and symptoms. The digital rectal exam and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test are 2 common ways to screen for prostate cancer. Abnormal or elevated results may require a biopsy of the prostate.
Get More Details About Prostate Cancer Screening, Signs & Symptoms
October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
While October is normally filled with spooky tricks, treat yourself to a mammogram this month. A mammogram is an x-ray of the breasts. Women should communicate with their healthcare provider about when and how often they should receive their mammograms based on age and family history.
It is typical for women to get annual mammograms starting at age 40. It is also important to perform routine breast self-exams at home to look for any suspicious lumps or abnormalities.
Note: Breast cancer is rare in men, but it does occur, mainly in men who are older than 50. The National Breast Cancer Foundation notes that, in men, breast cancer is usually detected as a hard lump under the nipple and areola.
November: National Lung Cancer Awareness Month
As the year is winding down, and we are reflecting on what we are thankful for this year, it may be the perfect time to schedule a lung cancer screening. A low-dose CT scan of the lungs can be performed to look for any abnormalities suggesting cancer. This screening is recommended by the CDC for people between the ages of 50 and 80 who have a history of smoking.
What Are the Risk Factors, Signs & Symptoms of Lung Cancer?
There is no doubt that living in a post-pandemic world has changed the healthcare climate immensely. We have spent the last 4 years reacting to illness, rather than preventing it.
2024 is the year that you take back your health. As we welcome in the new year, now is the best time to put you and your health at the forefront and get ahead of things. Take the pledge to get screened and encourage your friends and family to do the same.