16/08/2023
What is cancer screening?
Cancer screening is a way in which doctors check you for some types of cancers before you have any symptoms. Screening also involves looking for areas that can turn into cancer, or "pre-cancers." The goal of cancer screening is to find pre-cancers and cancers as early as possible, so you can get treatment and have the best possible outcome.
Different tests can be used to screen for different types of cancers. The age at which screening starts depends on the type of cancer being screened for. That's because different cancers tend to show up at different times in a person's life.
Why should I have cancer screening?
Cancer that is found early is often small and can sometimes be cured or treated easily. Treating certain cancers early might help people live longer. Sometimes, screening finds cells that do not yet show cancer, but that might turn into cancer cells. Doctors often treat this pre-cancer before it has a chance to become cancer.
Does everyone have the same cancer screening?
No. Not everyone is screened for the same types of cancer. And not everyone begins cancer screening at the same age. For example, people with a family history of certain cancers might begin screening at a younger age than people without a family history. People might have repeat screening tests at different times, too. Ask your doctor or nurse:
●Which cancers should I be screened for?
●Are there choices to make about which screening tests to have?
●At what age should I begin cancer screening?
●How often should I be screened?
Does an abnormal screening test result mean that I have cancer?
No, an abnormal screening test result does not mean that you definitely have cancer. It might mean that you have a condition other than cancer, which might not be serious at all. Or it might mean that you do have cancer or pre-cancer.
If you have an abnormal result, your doctor or nurse will probably need to do other tests to find out for sure if anything is wrong. Try not to worry about having cancer until you follow up with your doctor or nurse.
Which cancers can people be screened for?
Some of the types of cancer for which screening tests are available are:
●Breast cancer – The main test used to screen for breast cancer is called a "mammogram." Doctors do not always agree about when people should start having mammograms. But most people start around age 40 or 50. People who have a strong family history of breast cancer might begin screening earlier. Work with your doctor or nurse to decide when to start breast cancer screening and at what age you might stop screening.
●Colon cancer – There are multiple kinds of screening tests for colon cancer. The choice of which test to have is up to you and your doctor. Doctors recommend that most people begin having colon cancer screening at around age 45. Some people have an increased chance of getting colon cancer, because of a strong family history or certain medical conditions. These people might begin screening at a younger age.
●Cervical cancer – There are several ways to have cervical cancer screening, but one of the most common tests is called a "Pap smear" or "Pap test." For people with a cervix, screening with a Pap test often begins at age 21, although in some cases, screening begins at age 25. Doctors might add or switch to another screening test, called an "HPV test," after age 30. People who are older than 65 might or might not need to continue cervical cancer screening. If you are older than 65, talk with your doctor about whether or not you should keep getting screened.
●Prostate cancer – The main test used to screen for prostate cancer is called a "PSA test." It is unclear whether or not getting screened for prostate cancer can extend a person's life. For this reason, most experts recommend that everyone with a prostate work with their doctor to decide whether screening is right for them. In most cases, people should start discussing prostate cancer screening around age 50. For some people, prostate cancer screening can begin around age 40 if they are at higher risk. This includes Black people, people who have a relative with prostate cancer, and people who have a certain abnormal gene. Most doctors do not recommend screening for people age 70 or older or for those with serious health problems.
●Lung cancer – The main test used to screen for lung cancer is an imaging test called a "low-dose CT scan." For people at increased risk of lung cancer, screening can reduce your chance of dying from lung cancer. If you are 50 to 80 years old, and smoke ci******es or used to smoke ci******es, ask your doctor if you should be screened for lung cancer. The best way to reduce your chance of getting or dying from lung cancer is to stop smoking.
●Ovarian cancer – Most people do not need to think about screening for ovarian cancer. If you are at high risk, your doctor might suggest screening. This might be the case if someone in your family had ovarian or breast cancer, or if your family has a strong history of other cancers.
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