Cancer Prevention

Cancer Prevention

There are various ways to prevent different types of cancer. Three simple ways to help prevent many types of cancer for adults and children:

1. Don't smoke. We can help you quit.
2. Maintain a healthy weight and diet.
3. Get plenty of exercise.

Early Cancer Detection

What cancer screenings should you have—and when?

Last year, an estimated 1.9 million Americans learned they had cancer. Many of these cases were identified through routine screenings given or ordered by primary care physicians. For easy reference, use the chart for women and men below, which is based on the American Cancer Society recommendations. Remember–if you are at high risk for a particular kind of cancer due to your family history or other risk factors, you may be advised by your doctor to be tested earlier or more often. In addition to administering the right tests at the right time, your doctors can also work with you to make lifestyle changes that may protect you against cancer.

Cancer Screening Guidelines

Get regular check-ups and cancer screening tests to help prevent cancer or catch it early.

Breast Cancer

Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing as long as a woman is in good health.

Colorectal Cancer/Colon Cancer

Beginning at age 45, talk to your doctor about the testing option that is best for you and then have regular testing.

The tests that are designed to find both early cancer and polyps are preferred. Check whether these tests are available to you and decide whether you are willing to have one of these:

• Colonoscopy
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy

Prostate Cancer

Starting at age 50, men should talk to a doctor about the pros and cons of testing so they can decide if testing is the right choice for them. If they are African American or have a father or brother who has prostate cancer before age 65, men should have this talk with a doctor starting at age 45.

Lung Cancer

The American Cancer Society (ACS) does not recommend tests to screen lung cancer in people who are at average risk of this disease. Lung cancer screening is done yearly on people who:

• Are between 50 and 80 years old, and
• Smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years, and
• Have a history of heavy smoking (20 pack years or more).
  • A pack year is smoking an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for one year.

Cervical Cancer

Women between the ages of 30 and 65 should have a Pap test plus an HPV test (called co-testing) every 5 years. This is the preferred approach for this age group, but it is also fine to have a Pap test alone every 3 years.

Some women – because of their health history – may need to have a different screening schedule for cervical cancer.

An annual Well-Woman gynecologic exam is recommended.

Cancer Screening Recommendations

Women

21-29 years of age:

• Breast Cancer 
  Doctor’s breast exam – Every 1-3 years.
• Cervical Cancer
  Pap Test – First Pap Test at 21 then every 3 years.
• Skin Cancer 
  Head-to-toe visual exam – Annually.

30-39 years of age:

• Breast Cancer 
  Doctor’s breast exam – Every 1-3 years.
• Cervical Cancer 
  Pap Test – Every 3 years.
• Skin Cancer
  Head-to-toe visual exam – Annually.

40-49 years of age:

• Breast Cancer 
  Doctor’s breast exam - Annually.
  Mammogram – Annually.
• Cervical Cancer 
  Pap Test – Every 3 years.
• Colorectal Cancer
  First colonoscopy at 45 then every 10 years.
  or Sigmoidoscopy – Every 5 years.
• Skin Cancer
  Head-to-toe visual exam – Annually.

50 years of age:

• Breast Cancer 
  Doctor’s breast exam – Annually.
  Mammogram – Annually.
• Cervical Cancer
  Pap Test – Every 3 years.
• Colorectal Cancer
  Colonoscopy – Every 10 years.
  or Sigmoidoscopy – Every 5 years.
• Skin Cancer
  Head-to-toe visual exam – Annually.
• Lung Cancer
  Annual Lung Cancer Screening.
  Current or former smokers, low-dose CT chest screening recommended annually.

Men

20-39 years of age:

• Skin Cancer
  Head-to-toe visual exam – Annually.

40-49 years of age:

• Colorectal Cancer
  First colonoscopy at 45 then every 10 years.
  or Sigmoidoscopy – Every 5 years.
• Prostate Cancer
  Prostate specific antigen (PSA) test and Digital rectal exam (DRE) – Annually for men starting at age 45 if you are African American or if your father, brother, or son had prostate cancer before the age of 65.
• Skin Cancer
  Head-to-toe visual exam – Annually.

50 years of age:

• Colorectal Cancer
  Digital rectal exam – Annually.
  Colonoscopy – Every 10 years.
  or Sigmoidoscopy – Every 5 years.
• Prostate Cancer
  Prostate specific antigen (PSA) test and Digital rectal exam (DRE) – Annually.
• Skin Cancer
  Head-to-toe visual exam – Annually.
• Lung Cancer
  Annual Lung Cancer Screening.
  Current or former smokers, low-dose CT chest screening recommended annually.