Cancer Awareness Update

January is Cervical Cancer Screening Month

Before the 1950s, cervical cancer was the leading cause of cancer death among women. That was before doctors developed the Pap Test. It’s estimated that this simple test now saves the lives of 70 percent of women who otherwise would have died from the disease.

Still, it’s estimated that 10,000 American women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year. That’s the reason it’s so important for every woman to have an annual Pap Test if you are older than 21 or are sexually active. This very reliable test checks abnormal changes in the cells. If your test results are abnormal, your physician may conduct another Pap Test or check for HPV (Human Papillomavirus), the primary cause of almost all cervical cancer. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States. If detected early, the disease is highly treatable. But many people with colon cancer never have symptoms. That’s why it’s so important for everyone 50 or older to have regular screenings.

Unfortunately, 40 percent of Americans who should be screened for colon cancer have not been tested. If you’re over 50, you should talk to your personal physician about having a regular screening test for colon cancer. The most effective screening option for detecting the disease is a colonoscopy. With this test, the physician examines the entire colon to check for tumors as well as polyps and areas of inflammation that can lead to cancer. Polyps found during the examination can be removed. If you are over 50, you should have a colonoscopy at least every 10 years and every five years if you are at high risk. Other options include a fecal occult blood test (once a year) and a flexible sigmoidoscopy (every three to five years).