Do you know what cancer tests are recommended for you? Based on your age and your gender, I have compiled a list of what the United States Preventative Task Force (USPSTF) recommends for you.
Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States. Thankfully, cancer deaths in America have been steadily decreasing since 1999, largely due to increased cancer screening testing and continued efforts on smoking cessation education. Cancer treatment options have also greatly improved mortality. Since many cancers can be caught early, I have compiled a list of recommended testing by the USPSTF by age and gender.
Chart from the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/cancer
The USPSTF is an independent, volunteer panel of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine. They help guide physicians on what tests are best for individuals on the population level for disease screening. Their guidelines are created on evidence-based research and their sources are well documented in their decisions. I have compiled their Grade A or B recommendations for several cancer screening modalities. Find the full details on their research at https://uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/
Colon Cancer
Screen all adults aged 45 to 75 years for colorectal cancer. Several recommended screening tests are available. Clinicians and patients may consider a variety of factors in deciding which test may be best for each person. For example, the tests require different frequencies of screening, location of screening (home or office), methods of screening (stool-based or direct visualization), pre-procedure bowel preparation, anesthesia or sedation during the test, and follow-up procedures for abnormal findings. Selectively screen adults aged 76 to 85 years for colorectal cancer.
Recommended screening strategies include: · High-sensitivity guaiac fecal occult blood test (HSgFOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year · Stool DNA-FIT every 1 to 3 years · Computed tomography colonography every 5 years · Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years · Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 10 years + annual FIT · Colonoscopy screening every 10 years
Cervical Cancer Screening
Lung Cancer Screening
Abdominal Aneurysm Screening
Breast Cancer Screening
Osteoporosis Screening
All of these screening recommendations may differ if you have a strong family history of cancer or if you have a known increased genetic risk, or genetic variant, for a particular cancer. With our Riviera package, we offer genetic testing of these variants to help you determine if you are at increased risk for certain types of cancer. I encourage you to seek out preventative screening testing to help reduce your risk of cancer and preserve your good health for as long as possible.
Comments