According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), more than 1.9 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2023. Screening is important to detect the disease at an early stage before symptoms appear, when successful treatment can be achieved. The lower the chances the higher.
With different screening methods used for different types of cancer, some people may be confused about which doctor to see.
Dr. Paunel Vukasinov, board-certified internal medicine specialist and medical director at the Medical Offices of Manhattan in New York City, shares his insights and recommendations for annual cancer screenings.
“Routine cancer screening is a test to find out if someone has cancer before they show any signs or symptoms,” he told Fox News Digital.
Screening Recommendations U.S. Preventive Services are provided by the Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent group of volunteer disease prevention experts.
Using an evidence-based approach, they provide guidance about how often different groups of people would benefit from cancer screening,” Vukasinov said.
breast cancer screening
According to BreastCancer.org, about 13% (one in eight) of American women will develop invasive breast cancer at some point in their lifetime.
The USPSTF now recommends that women start talking to their primary health care providers about breast cancer screening at age 40.
This change was announced in May 2023, when the recommended age was reduced from 50 to 40.
According to Vukasinov, a mammogram (breast X-ray) is usually recommended every two years starting at age 40, but it may happen sooner for women at increased risk for breast cancer, including the following groups:
Have a personal or family history of breast diseases or breast or ovarian cancer
Women who started menstruating before the age of 12
Women with known genetic mutations
people who have been exposed to radiation
Women with exposure to certain medications and hormone therapy
In addition to mammograms, MRI scans of the breast are sometimes used, but medical imaging is not the only form of breast cancer screening.
“Breast self-exam is one of the simplest forms of cancer screening. “It’s important to know what ‘normal’ means and feels like for your body, and to consult a doctor when something doesn’t feel right,” Vukasinov said.
Although the American Cancer Society does not recommend routine clinical breast examination or breast self-examination as part of routine breast cancer screening, the organization notes on its website that “Women should be aware that their breasts How they look and feel normally and should report any changes to a health care provider immediately.
cervical cancer screening
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 11,500 new cases of cervical cancer each year in the US, killing 4,000 women.
Vukasinov said that not only is it possible to detect cervical cancer with routine cancer screenings, but it can also be found before it starts, while it is still in the “precancerous” stage.
Cervical cancer is diagnosed through a Pap test, also commonly known as a Pap smear.
During this test, the doctor scrapes the cervix to collect cell samples, which are then sent to the laboratory to check for any abnormalities that may indicate cancerous or pre-cancerous cells.
“These routine tests are often performed by OB/GYNs, but many doctors’ offices and clinics can also perform them,” Vukasinov said.
The doctor said that cervical cancer screening usually starts at age 21 and continues until about age 65 for most women.
Colorectal cancer screening
The ACS says that colorectal (colon and rectal) cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. It is the third most common cancer in the United States.
Experts estimate that there will be 106,970 new cases of colon cancer and 46,050 new cases of rectal cancer in 2023.
These cancers usually begin with slow-growing polyps, which are small clumps of cells that collect in the lining of the colon.
During routine cancer screening, these polyps can be found and removed.
The most common form of colorectal cancer screening is colonoscopy.
“Colonoscopy is typically an outpatient procedure in which a doctor will examine the colon with a flexible instrument with a camera,” Vukasinov said.
“For most people, this screening starts at age 45 and requires follow-up every five years.”
lung cancer screening
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The ACS website states that lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer in the US, not including skin cancer.
The ACS estimates that there will be 238,340 new cases and 127,070 deaths from the disease in 2023.
Not everyone needs lung cancer screening, but it is important for people who meet the following criteria:
People who smoke or have quit within the last 15 years
Those aged between 50 and 80
People with a smoking history of 20 “pack-years” or more
“Pack-years” are a measurement of one’s cigarette consumption, Vukasinov explained.
“A pack-year means that, on average, a person smokes one pack of cigarettes per day for a year,” he said.
So, a 20 pack-year could be one pack per day for 20 years, two packs per day for 10 years, or half a pack per day for 40 years. “This will vary from person to person, and even across that person’s lifetime.”
A special type of X-ray scan, a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan, is used to check for signs of cancer in the lungs.
“To date, this is the only recommended routine screening for lung cancer,” Vukasinov said.
skin cancer screening
According to ACS
Although skin cancer is often more treatable than other types, early and fast treatment is still important to improve long-term prognosis, experts say.
“A dermatologist can help determine the best cadence for skin cancer screening,” Vukasinov said.
“This is still an active area of research, but skin cancer screening may be especially important for people who have a family history of skin cancer or have current symptoms of skin cancer, such as irregular or “Changing skin characteristics.”
Although the ACS has no official guidance on skin cancer screening, many doctors recommend monthly self-examination, as stated on its website.
Other cancer tests
There are more than 100 documented types of cancer, but screening is not recommended for all types or all people.
For some types of cancer, screening has no health benefits or may lead to greater risk of disease, according to Manhattan medical offices.