In the News: Get Checked!

Have you ever wished you’d done something sooner? Start a project, take that vacation to Hawaii, move into a retirement community? Get screened for cancer?

It might not be at the top of your "to do" list, but getting screened for cancer sooner could mean finding it at an earlier stage, when it's more treatable.

The Pennsylvania Medical Society has joined forces with the American Cancer Society, Pennsylvania Division, to spread the following message to as many Pennsylvanians as possible:

Cancer screenings save lives.

The bottom line is that when cancer is detected early, it’s more treatable and survival rates increase dramatically. But apparently many Pennsylvanians are still avoiding appropriate screenings.

A recent statewide Patient Poll conducted by the Medical Society’s Institute for Good Medicine found that:

  • 44 percent of the respondents indicated that they had delayed or avoided a cancer-related test/screening because they were worried about what the results might be.
  • 31 percent said they felt the test wasn’t really necessary.
  • About 20 percent also selected concerns about time, pain, or embarrassment from the test as reasons to avoid or delay.

(Note: Totals exceed 100 percent because more than one answer could be selected. Thirteen percent of the total and 35 percent of those who avoided/delayed noted lack of insurance as a reason as well.)

 “Our partnership with the American Cancer Society is a great way for both organizations to encourage our patients and the public in general to ‘Get Checked!’ Talk with your doctor about which screenings are right for you and do it sooner than later.” notes Peter Lund, MD, president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and founder of its Institute for Good Medicine.

Dr. Brian Calabrese, DO, Lancaster, Pa., oncologist and volunteer leadership council member, Lancaster unit of the American Cancer Society, adds, “Taking the initiative to get screened for cancer is yet another way a patient can take some control over their healthcare. I can’t emphasize enough what a tremendous difference it makes when cancer is found early. It’s so much more treatable and in many cases, curable.”

The Medical Society and the American Cancer Society have developed the following “checklist” to prompt the doctor/patient discussion:

Men ages 45-49:

To check for prostate cancer

Beginning at age 45:

  • If you are African American or if your father, brother, or son had prostate cancer before the age of 65, get a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a rectal exam every year. Talk to your doctor about the appropriate age to begin screening. 
  • Other men do no have to be tested at this age.

Men age 50 and older:

To check for prostate cancer

  • Your doctor should offer you a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a rectal exam every year.  Talk to your doctor about prostate cancer and the pros and cons of early detection and treatment to decide if this test is right for you.

To check for colon cancer

  • Get regular colon cancer testing.  There are several tests to check for colon cancer.  Talk to your doctor about these tests, how often they are done, and which test is best for you.

Men of all ages:

To check for skin cancer

  • As part of a routine cancer-related checkup, your doctor should check your skin carefully. Let him or her know if you have a family history of skin cancer or notice any changes in your skin or moles.
  • It's important to check your own skin, preferably once a month.

Women under 40:

To check for breast cancer

  • Have a doctor examine your breasts about every three years when you are in your 20s and 30s.
  • Examining your own breasts beginning in your 20s is an option.  Tell your doctor right away if you feel any changes in your breasts such as a lump.

To check for cervical cancer

  • Begin cervical cancer screening (Pap test) about three years after you begin having intercourse, but no later than age 21.
  • If you are 30 years of age or older, and have had three normal Pap test results in a row, you may be screened every two to three years. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor.

Women ages 40 to 49:

To check for breast cancer

  • Have an x-ray (mammogram) of your breasts every year.
  • Have a doctor examine your breasts every year.
  • Tell your doctor right away if you feel or notice any changes in your breasts, such as a lump.

To check for cervical cancer  

  • Get a regular Pap Test. Ask your doctor how often you should have a Pap test.  Most women have the test every one to three years. 

Women age 50 and older:

To check for breast cancer

  • Have an x-ray (mammogram) of your breasts every year.
  • Have a doctor examine your breasts every year.
  • Tell your doctor right away if you feel or notice any changes in your breasts, such as a lump.

To check for cervical cancer

  • Get a regular Pap Test. Ask your doctor how often you should have a Pap test.  Most women have the test every one to three years. 

To check for colon cancer

  • Get regular colon cancer testing.  There are several tests to check for colon cancer.  Talk to your doctor about these tests, how often they are done and which test is best for you.

For women of all ages:

To check for skin cancer

  • As part of a routine cancer-related checkup, your doctor should check your skin carefully. Let him or her know if you have a family history of skin cancer or notice any changes in your skin or moles.
  • It's important to check your own skin, preferably once a month.
For more information about cancer screenings, visit www.cancer.org. Remember, cancer screenings save lives. It could be yours.