March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month:
Colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon or rectum. It’s as common in women as it is in men.
This year, over 142,500 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and nearly 51,400 will die of the disease. With certain types of screening, this cancer can be prevented by removing polyps (grape-like growths on the wall of the intestine) before they become cancerous. Several screening tests detect colorectal cancer early, when it can be more easily and successfully treated.Risk Reduction and Early Detection
•Be physically active for at least 30 minutes, at least five days a week.
•Maintain a healthy weight.
•Don’t smoke. If you do smoke, quit.
•If you drink alcohol, have no more than one drink a day if you’re a woman or two drinks a day if you’re a man.
•Eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains to help you get and stay healthy.
•Eat less red meat and cut out processed meat.
If you’re at average risk for colorectal cancer, start getting screened at age 50. If you’re at higher risk, you may need to start regular screening at an earlier age and be screened more often. If you’re older than 75, ask your doctor if you should continue to be screened. The best time to get screened is before you have any symptoms.
February is Cancer Screening Month:
~Cancer screening and early detection saves lives. Currently there are early detection screening tests for colon, prostate, skin, breast and cervical cancers.
~If you are due for any of the following screenings please schedule an appointment today!
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month Cervical - Cancer Screening Guidelines:
~Screening should begin approximately three years after a women begins having vaginal intercourse, but no later than 21 years of age.
~Screening should be done every year with regular Pap tests or every two years using liquid-based tests.
~At or after age 30, women who have had three normal test results in a row may get screened every 2-3 years. However, doctors may suggest a woman get screened more if she has certain risk factors, such as HIV infection or a weakened immune system.
~Women 70 and older who have had three or more consecutive normal Pap test results in the last ten years may choose to stop cervical cancer screening.
