Screening Guidelines For Cancer Prevention
- Famous DJ Lauren Laverne, from the U.K., announced this week that she’s recovering in the hospital after being diagnosed with cancer. Now, cancer-free from an undisclosed disease, she is urging others to get screened as “finding out ASAP is everything.”
- Although it’s unclear what disease Laverne fought, the Daily Mail points out that cervical cancer screenings are the only type of screening service available by the National Health Service (NHS), a publicly funded health system in the U.K., for women under age 50—which suggests that was the screening test Laverne underwent before her diagnosis.
- As for anyone living in the U.S., the National Cancer Institute (NCI) reports that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) says that women between the ages of 21 and 29 should get a Pap test every three years starting at 21. For those between the ages of 30 and 65 in the U.S. the USPSTF advises to get one of the following screenings: HPV test every 5 years, HPV/Pap cotest every 5 years, Pap test every 3 years. For women older than 65 years, the USPSTF suggest you speak with your health care provider to find out whether you still need screenings.
- Making all of your doctor’s appointments for major health screenings at the start of every year is a good way to make sure your health is covered from all angles, whether it’s a mammogram, Pap smear, colonoscopy, lung cancer scan, or a skin check at the dermatologist.
The 46-year-old English radio DJ and TV presenter, who rose to fame as a guitarist and lyricist in the English pop band Kenickie, took to social media this week to announce her recent cancer diagnosis.
Read MoreView this post on Instagram
She concluded, “I also want to say that if you’re avoiding a test or putting off an appointment to get yourself checked out please, please do it today. Half of us will get cancer at some point, and if you do, finding out asap is everything.
“It’s usually my job to bring the good vibes on air but any you have to spare are very much welcome here. Sending loads of love to anyone in a similar boat, or who has made it back to shore. xxx”
Expert Advice For Coping With Cancer
- Cancer Support Groups Aren’t for Everyone — We All Have Our Own Way of Coping
- How to Be Realistically Optimistic: Coping With Mental Health Long-Term
- ‘How Much Will It Cost?’: A Guide to Coping With the Cost of Cancer Treatment
- Mental Health: Coping With Feelings of Anger
- Mental Health and Cancer — The Fight, Flight or Freeze Response
- Living With Cancer: Coping With Hair Loss & the Anxiety it Brings
It’s unclear what disease Laverne was diagnosed with, and intimately beat, but one thing is for sure—women shouldn’t skip cancer screenings.
Additionally, as the Daily Mail pointed out, cervical cancer screenings are the only type of screening service available by the National Health Service (NHS), a publicly funded health system in the U.K., for women under the age of 50—which suggests that was the screening test Laverne underwent before her diagnosis.
In the U.K. screening guidelines for cervical cancer advise would to get checked every three years by their doctors between ages 25 and 49. As for those ranging in age from 50 to 64, it’s suggested they get checked every five years.
RELATED: 6 Common Excuses for Skipping a Mammogram That You Need to Stop Using!
As for anyone living in the U.S., the National Cancer Institute (NCI) reports that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) says that women between the ages of 21 and 29 should get a Pap test every three years starting at 21.
For those between the ages of 30 and 65 in the U.S. the USPSTF advises to get one of the following screenings:
- HPV test every 5 years
- HPV/Pap cotest every 5 years
- Pap test every 3 years
For women older than 65 years, the USPSTF suggest you speak with your health care provider to find out whether you still need screenings.
Screening for Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is detected through a pap smear test, which looks for early signs of the disease, which is mainly caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV, which can cause many other cancers like throat cancer and anal cancer. Medical experts recommend the HPV vaccine for children ages 9-12, before their sexual years.
Nearly every sexually-active person will get HPV at some point in their lives, but most people with the infection do not know they have it and never develop symptoms or health problems from it. That is why it’s important to stay up on your annual pap tests.
Why Is Late-Stage Cervical Cancer On The Rise? The Importance of Pap Smears and Testing For HPV
“Many women think that a pap smear checks for ovarian cancer, but it doesn’t. Pap smears detect only cervical cancer, not all gynecologic cancers,” Nurse Practitioner Barbara Dehn explained to SurvivorNet in a previous interview.
She added, “In fact, there is no test that detects ovarian cancer in its earliest stages, which is why two-thirds to three-quarters of women are diagnosed at a later stage, when the disease has spread to nearby tissues and organs.”
Every year in the U.S., approximately 14,480 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer. And nearly a third of women diagnosed will pass away from this disease.
Getting pap smears to detect for cervical cancer is critically important because an earlier diagnosis may mean a better prognosis and broader treatment options.
Understanding HPV
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is “a group of more than 200 related viruses, some of which are spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex,” the National Cancer Institute says.
HPV infection is linked to multiple cancers, and the majority of sexually active people will get the disease at some point in their lives.
WATCH: HPV’s link to cancer.
Although nearly all cases of cervical cancer are indeed caused by HPV, people should also be aware that HPV puts both men and women at risk of developing several other cancers, such as oral cancer and cancers of the vagina, penis, anus, and throat.
Overall, HPV is believed to be the cause of 90% of anal and cervical cancers, approximately 70% of vaginal and vulvar cancers, and 60% of penile cancers.
“There are no screening guidelines to screen for throat cancer, unlike cervical cancer with pap smears,” says Dr. Jessica Geiger, a medical oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet. “There are no standard tests to determine if you harbor the virus.”
Cancer Research Legend Urges Patients to Get Multiple Opinions
On the plus side, HPV-related throat cancers are generally very responsive to a combination of radiation and chemotherapy treatments, according to Dr. Geiger.
“The cure rates for people who have HPV-related disease are a lot higher than those who have tobacco-related throat cancer,” she said.
Helpful Information About Breast Cancer Screening
Meanwhile, the medical community in the U.S. has a consensus that women between 45 and 54 have annual mammograms. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is saying that women should start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered the age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives.
For women aged 55 and older, the American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.
Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, have dense breasts, have a genetic mutation known to increase the risk of breast cancer, such as a BRCA gene mutation, or a medical history, including chest radiation therapy before age 30, are considered at higher risk for breast cancer.
Experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12) or having dense breasts can also put you into a high-risk category. If you are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.
RELATED: Black Women May Need To Start Breast Cancer Screening At 42, According To A New Study
Breast density is determined through mammograms. However, women with dense breasts are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer because dense breast tissue can mask potential cancer during screening. 3D mammograms, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and molecular breast imaging are options for women with dense breasts for a more precise screening. It is important to ask your doctor about your breast density and cancer risk.
Protocols for Screening Major Cancer Types
It is important to remember that early detection is key in many cases, such as women being advised to screen for breast cancer at age 40 and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently drafted new recommended guidelines which state colon cancer screenings should begin at 45-years-old.
Colon cancer screening guidelines are in response to the increase we are seeing of colon cancer diagnoses in younger adults. However, many insurance companies still do not cover the cost of screenings for those below the age of 50. In the past, the disease had predominantly been found in adults 50-years or older, but for those predisposed to get it at a younger age, these new guidelines could potentially help catch it at an earlier stage.
The best and most complete way of screening is a colonoscopy every 10 years. In general, you should get your first colonoscopy at age 45 but the guidelines differ depending on your risk category. If you have a close relative who had colon cancer, a rule of thumb is to get screened 10 years prior to their age of diagnosis to make sure any growths or cancers are caught early. If you have several family members who had colon cancer, or family members who got it at a young age (less than 50 years old), it may be necessary to undergo genetic screening. And if you have a lot of polyps on your colonoscopy or if you yourself have had colon cancer previously, you will need a colonoscopy every 3 to 5 years.
Colon Cancer: Prevention & Screening
Additionally, cervical cancer screening is advised to begin at 25 with a primary human papillomavirus (HPV) test, which more sensitive than a standard Pap smear test, and continue every 5 years, according to American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines.
What You Need to Know About Lung Cancer Screenings
As for lung cancer screening, generally, the risk of lung cancer increases with age. Usually, screenings are recommended for individuals between the ages of 50-80. Other factors can contribute to an increased risk too, such as prolonged exposure to harmful substances like radon, asbestos, or certain types of dust and chemicals, especially in the workplace.
Remember not to forget about your skin, as doing regular self-checks on your skin is important to find skin cancer early. If you’re high-risk, it’s especially vital.
Dr. Cecilia Larocca, a dermatologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, previously shared with SurvivorNet that she recommends looking at your skin once a month for anything suspicious and using the acronym ABCDE as a checklist:
- Asymmetrical moles: If you drew a line straight down the center of the mole, would the sides match? If not, your mole is considered asymmetrical
- Borders: The edges of your mole look irregular, jagged, or uneven; can also stand for bleeding
- Colors: Multiple distinct colors in the mole, including patches of pink, brown, grey, and blackbut could be any color
- Diameter: Larger than 6mm, about the size of a pencil head eraser
- Evolution: Anything that’s changing over time such as gaining color, losing color, pain, itching, changing shape, etc…
Dr. Larocca emphasizes that any mole that’s changing in appearance or causing symptoms should be looked at by a dermatologist as soon as possible. Black moles of any kind are also at high risk for melanoma.
If you notice any of these changes, see your dermatologist for a full skin assessment. Early detection of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, improves your chances for successful treatment.
Making all of your doctor’s appointments for major health screenings at the start of every year is a good way to make sure your health is covered from all angles, whether it’s a mammogram, Pap smear, colonoscopy, lung cancer scan, or a skin check at the dermatologist.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
