CANCER PREVENTION AND SCREENING: CANCER SCREENING

Blow the Whistle on Cancer Through Early Detection

Everyone should receive regular screenings for cancer, a disease that kills one in every four Americans. Simple, relatively pain-free exams can mean the difference between life and death. The old adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," really does ring true when it comes to early detection of this life-altering disease.

The following are recommended screening guidelines for individuals without symptoms from the American Cancer Society (ACS), one of the largest national organizations dedicated to fighting cancer. You should refer to these guidelines when talking to your doctor about a cancer screening appropriate for you … and we hope you'll do it today!

American Cancer Society Screening Recommendations for the Early Detection of Cancer

Cancer Site	Population	Test or Procedure	Frequency
Breast	Women aged 20 years and older	Self-examination	Monthly
	Women aged 20-39 years	Clinical examination	Every three years
	Women aged 40 years and older	Clinical examination	Annually*
	Women aged 40 years and older	Mammography	Annually
Colorectal	Men and women aged 50 years and older	Fecal occult blood test and flexible sigmoidoscopyH	Annual fecal occult blood test and flexible sigmoidoscopy at age 50; thereafter, fecal occult blood test every year and flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years
		or double contrast barium enema	Double contrast barium enema at age 50; thereafter, every five to 10 years
		or colonoscopy	Colonoscopy every 10 years starting at age 50
Prostate	Men aged 50 years and older	Digital rectal examination and prostate specific antigen (PSA) test	Annual digital rectal exam and PSA test should be offered to men starting at age 50.I
Cervix	Women aged 18 years and older	Pap test and pelvic examination	All women who are, or have been, sexually active or who have reached age 18 should have an annual Pap test and pelvic examination. After a woman has had three or more consecutive satisfactory, normal annual examinations, the Pap test may be performed less frequently at the discretion of the physician.
Cancer-related checkup	Men and women aged 20 years and older		Examinations every three years from ages 20-39 and annually after age 40. The cancer-related checkup should include an examination for cancers of the thyroid, testicles, ovaries, lymph nodes, oral cavity, and skin, as well as health counseling about tobacco use, sun exposure, diet and nutrition, risk factors, sexual practices, and environmental and occupational exposures.
* Beginning at age 40, annual clinical breast examination should be performed prior to mammography. H Digital rectal examination should be performed at the time of sigmoidoscopy, barium enema, and colonoscopy. I Information should be provided to men regarding potential risks and benefits from screening.

You can increase your chances of having a long, healthy life by obtaining the cancer screenings recommended by your doctor, and developing a healthy lifestyle that will prevent other diseases as well. Remember to avoid tobacco use, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, decrease your intake of high-fat foods and red meat, limit your alcohol intake, use sunscreen when outdoors, and exercise regularly. Then relax … you're taking good care of yourself!

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