Cancer screening may seem really scary, time-consuming, a waste of time, and many other things that don’t need to be. It can be uncomfortable, stressful, and anxious until you get a negative result. Still, cancer screening saves lives. Increased cancer screening, fewer smokers, and improved cancer treatments prevented about 3.2 million cancer deaths between 1991 and 2018 (American Cancer Society, 2021). The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends screening for breast, cervical, colon, lung, and prostate cancer. Early detection of these cancers significantly increases the chances that patients can enter remission and have the intensity of treatment reduced.
While anyone can get cancer, there are things you can do to naturally reduce your risk of cancer. The ACS offers several recommendations aimed at reducing your risk of cancer.
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables
• Limit your alcohol intake. If you consume alcohol, limit it to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
• Protect your skin (SPF, UV-blocking clothing, etc.)
• Know yourself, your family history and your risks
• Get regular health checkups and cancer screenings
Following these recommendations and participating in recommended screenings at the appropriate age can significantly reduce the risk of severe cancer disease and death. Even the “healthiest” people can develop cancer, so it is important to follow screening guidelines. Barbara Klein, a 60-year-old school bus driver, had been ignoring screening recommendations like many Americans when her 40-year-old friend was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. She was shocked, but decided to order Cologuard to check her colon health at home. She thought she was healthy and had nothing to worry about, but the phone call that an abnormality was found in her colon shocked her even more. Barbara was eventually diagnosed with stage 1 colon cancer, underwent surgery immediately, and has been cancer-free for 5 years as of June 2022 (Klein, 2022).
While Barbara’s story began with a friend’s devastating news, yours doesn’t have to be. Keep yourself screened for cancer to reduce your risk of cancer progressing. If you have any symptoms that concern you or if it’s past time for a cancer screening, contact your doctor. Knowledge is one of the best prescriptions for reducing your risk of cancer.
For more local health and wellness information, visit www.tillamookcounty.
