Cancer Update
New developments are occurring every day in the fight against cancer. Here are three recent news items that may be helpful the next time you see your doctor.
Prostate Cancer: There is growing controversy regarding the use of a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test in men over 50. For years the PSA screening was a standard way to check for prostate cancer. There is now concern that the test cannot tell the difference between aggressive and non- aggressive cancers, leading to unnecessary surgery or radiation treatment. Be sure to talk to your personal physician to see if a PSA blood test is right for you. You should also talk to your physician about having a digital rectal exam performed once a year if you are over 50, and earlier if you have a higher risk for prostate cancer.
Colorectal Cancer: If you are on Medicare and age 50 or older, many tests that check for colon cancer are now available at no charge. These include a colonoscopy (recommended every 10 years), a sigmoidoscopy (recommended every 5 years) and a fecal occult blood test (recommended once a year). If you have a higher risk for colorectal cancer, you may need to start screening before age 50 as well as more frequently.
Updating Your Family History: Your familyʼs history of cancer is one of the most useful tools in determining if you have a higher risk for the disease. Yet all too often, changes in this history are never communicated to the physician. During your next appointment with your personal physician, take the time to tell him or her about any family members that have been recently diagnosed with cancer. This information will help both of you make a more informed decision about what cancer screenings you may need to have.