Five Important Reasons Not to Delay Cancer Screenings

Posted on 7/12/2021

Should you put off your cancer screenings? Experts agree the answer in most cases is “definitely not.” Here’s why:

1. Screening can detect precancerous lesions and cancers in their earliest stages when they might be most treatable.
2. Some cancer screenings, such as colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, can do more than detect cancer early— they can prevent the disease from developing at all.
3. Some cancer screenings, such as low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for lung cancer and mammograms for breast cancer, have been shown to significantly reduce deaths from the disease.
4. Since the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce recommended eliminating prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening for men of all ages in 2012, rates of advanced prostate cancer in men over 50 have increased.
5. Delays in screening could lead to cancers being larger and more advanced when they are eventually discovered, making them more difficult to treat.

Sources: American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute

Here comes the sun... Apply sunscreen!

Regular use of SPF 30 sunscreen (or higher) can reduce your risk of developing squamous cell skin cancer by about 40% and lower your melanoma risk by 50%. If you must be out in the sun, apply sunscreen to all exposed skin 30 minutes prior to going outdoors. Use one ounce (about a shot glass full) for your entire body and reapply every two hours.