July 2, 2009

Taking action before it’s too late

We are all faced with too much to do and too little time. In many cases, our day-to-day activities take priority and we fail to concern ourselves with our overall health — especially if we feel well and have no symptoms of illness. The fact is certain health conditions may not present any symptoms until they have progressed to a hard-to-treat stage. That’s why early detection through screenings and early treatment are so important.

Cancer screenings

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Nearly half of all men and a little over one-third of all women in the United States will develop cancer during their lifetimes. However, your chance of beating cancer improves if the diagnosis and treatment begin in the early stages of the disease. There are several screenings that have been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the ACS, including the following:

Mammogram
This screening, with or without a clinical breast examination, is recommended every one to two years for women age 40 and older, and beginning at earlier ages for those women at high risk for breast cancer. With the exception of skin cancers, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. The ACS estimates that in the United States, more than 192,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected in 2009 for women, and approximately 1,900 new cases are expected for men.

Colorectal cancer screening
Colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer deaths for men and women in the United States. Early detection through screenings can prevent more than half of the nearly 50,000 deaths expected from colorectal cancers in 2009. You may be at risk for colorectal cancer even if you have no history of the disease in your family or no obvious symptoms, such as a change in bowel habits or blood in the stool. People over the age of 50 are at the greatest risk for colon cancer.

Pap smear
This is a simple test that detects abnormalities of cervical tissue by viewing cell samples under a microscope. The CDC recommends that women age 21 and older should have a pap smear every one to three years. Because cervical precancers take a fairly long time to develop, early detection can prevent nearly all cases of cervical cancer.

There are other screenings that you should consider, depending on your age and health history. You’ll find a suggested schedule at www.upmchealthplan.com/health/preventive/index.html. Talk to your health care provider to determine the best plan for your preventive care needs. Set aside one day each year to visit your doctors. That one day could save your life.

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