The Importance of Cancer Screenings
- British fashion model Kate Moss’ birthday reminds us of the importance of cancer screenings as we age. Moss, who was previously the face of the UK’s Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, reportedly celebrated turning 50th this week with her friends and family. Her birthday also comes as her half-sister Lottie opened up about her struggles with substance abuse on TikTok.
- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women at average breast cancer risk begin screening for breast cancer at age 40. Women with the BRCA gene mutation, who have a family history of cancer or have dense breasts, are at higher risk and should talk with their doctor about when to screen may be younger than 40.
- According to Dr. Anna Beavis, women should start scheduling their cervical cancer screenings starting at age 21 and continue until age 65. However, even if you’re 65 years or older, that doesn’t mean you’re necessarily off the hook. In order to skip these screenings, you’ll need to have had regular pap smears for the past 10 years in order to get the all clear.
- Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend that adults age 45 to 75 be screened for colorectal cancer.
It’s important for women of all ages to be aware of the critical cancer screenings available and symptoms to be on the lookout for. Additionally, prioritizing one’s mental health is also a top priority, and something Moss’ half sister Lottie understands all too well as she previously snuggled with substance abuse, something she recently took to TikTok to open up about.
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According to the DailyMail, Moss is hosting a party at the Ritz in Paris, and invited her family and friends, including Rita Ora, Sadie Frost, and her boyfriend Nikolai von Bismarck.
“Kate has been planning a big party at the Ritz in Paris for a long time now. And finally the day has arrived and all of her close friends and family are jetting into the capital to celebrate her special day,” a source told the MailOnline.
“As a world famous supermodel, nobody expected anything less from Kate than to host her party at the Ritz, which is almost as fabulous as she is. It will be a night to remember, she can’t wait to dress up, and dance the night away.”
We’re delighted to see Moss enjoying life with loved ones, and we’re especially grateful her birthday serves as a reminder for women to get screened for cancer.
Back in 2016, Moss and here friend Campbell were revealed to be the faces of Fashion Targets Breast Cancer in the UK, just 20 years after they took part in the campaign’s launch.
Speaking of the campaign, which has raised $55million to date, Moss said at the time, “It’s great to be returning to support Fashion Targets Breast Cancer on this very special anniversary year.
“Since its UK launch in 1996, when I first appeared in the campaign poster, Fashion Targets Breast Cancer has gone on to impact so many lives by funding vital research into this devastating disease.”
When to Screen for Breast Cancer
The medical community has a broad consensus that women have annual mammograms between the ages of 45 and 54. 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.
WATCH: SurvivorNet expert, oncologist Dr. Ann Partridge discusses the challenges of diagnosing and treating treating aggressive breast cancers in young women.
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.
WATCH: Understanding the BRCA gene mutation.
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: Is Genetic Testing Right for You?
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.
The Importance of Cancer Screenings & Understanding Guidelines
As January marks Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, it’s important that women of all ages know the facts around cancer screenings. When it comes to scheduling a screening, older women sometimes may have different options depending on guidelines.
“A woman doesn’t need to come in for a pap smear every year, but can come in every three to five years, depending on her age,” Dr. Anna Beavis, a gynecological oncologist at John Hopkins Medicine, tells SurvivorNet. “I still recommend that every woman go to their [gynecologist] every year for an exam, even if a pap smear isn’t being done.”
Related: Top 5 Excuses Women Give for Not Getting a Pap Smear: Are You Guilty of Using One of These?
According to Dr. Beavis, women should start scheduling their cervical cancer screenings starting at age 21 and continue until age 65. However, even if you’re 65 years or older, that doesn’t mean you’re necessarily off the hook. In order to skip these screenings, you’ll need to have had regular pap smears for the past 10 years in order to get the all clear. These screenings are extremely important, especially since cervical cancer doesn’t present symptoms until it has advanced. By following guidelines and regularly having pap smears, your doctor can catch the disease before it has progressed.
Ex-NYPD cop and cervical cancer survivor, Patti Murillo Casa, advocates for other women to be tested
Dr. Beavis’ recommendation echoes that of the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines, which state women starting at age 21 to age 29 should have a pap smear every three years. For women 30-years-old to age 65, guidelines recommend women should get a pap smear along with an HPV test (or an HPV test alone) every five years. The guidelines also specify which women qualify for three year screenings while others qualify for five. To determine this, it’s important to talk to your doctor as to whether you are “high-risk” of the disease or not.
Colon Cancer: A Silent Killer
Dr. Heather Yeo, a colorectal surgeon and surgical oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian, previously told SurvivorNet, “Colon cancer is considered a silent and deadly killer. What happens is people often don’t know that they have colon cancer. They don’t have any symptoms. That’s why we screen for colon cancer in the United States.”
The Rate of Colon Cancer is Increasing in Those Under 50
“You should be screened for colon cancer, even if you have no family history. Once you have your initial screening colonoscopy, if there are no polyps and you have no high-risk factors, usually once every 10 years is fine,” she advises.
“Colon cancer is a slowly progressing cancer. If you have any family history of colon cancer, you should be screened about 10 years before your family member had colon cancer. So if you have a family member that was 53, you should be screened at 43.”
Although the average age people are diagnosed with colon cancer is 68 for men and 72 for women, according to the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute reports that since the 1990s, colorectal cancer cases have been rising among adults younger than 50.
Research published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians found the proportion of cases in people younger than 55 years old increased from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019.
“We know rates are increasing in young people, but it’s alarming to see how rapidly the whole patient population is shifting younger, despite shrinking numbers in the overall population,” cancer epidemiologist and lead study author Rebecca Siegel said.
Researchers are still trying to determine why younger people are being diagnosed in greater numbers. Some experts point to risk factors which include obesity, physical inactivity, and smoking as a possible explanation for the increase.
“We don’t know for sure why we are seeing earlier onset and death from colon cancer,” Dr. Heather Yeo, a surgical oncologist who specializes in colorectal cancers at Weill Cornell Medicine, told SurvivorNet.
“It is likely a combination of factors, including diet and genetics as well as access to care and some environmental factors,” Dr. Yeo added.
Luckily, most colon cancers can be prevented through routine screenings. Colon cancer screenings usually involve a colonoscopy, in which a long thin tube attached to a camera is used to examine the colon and rectum.
The advantage of a colonoscopy is that your doctor can remove any polyps found during the test before they turn into cancer. If no polyps are discovered, the next screening won’t be needed for about 10 years.
Dr. Paul Oberstein Explains Common Colon Cancer Symptoms
A colonoscopy isn’t the only colon cancer screening test. There are other options, including stool tests that detect blood or DNA, and flexible sigmoidoscopy, which checks only the lower third of your colon.
Ask your doctor whether any of these tests would be good additions to a colonoscopy, based on your risks and/or personal preferences.
RELATED: Can the Stuff in My Gut Cause Cancer? There May Be A Link to Colon Cancer
“We know that colon cancers can be prevented when polyps are found early,” Dr. Yeo added. “Lowering the screening age helps somewhat with this, but access to care is a real problem.”
The American Gastrointestinal Association lowered the recommended initial age for a colorectal screening from 50 to 45.
“The fact that we have now reduced the screening age to 45 is a huge step,” Michael Sapienza, CEO of Colorectal Cancer Alliance, told SurvivorNet in an earlier conversation.
“It will allow us to potentially screen 15 million more eligible Americans a year and will certainly save lives. I also think what it’ll do is bring much-needed attention that even if you’re younger than 45 you should be paying more attention. I think that’s also a really important message.”
Lung Cancer Screening for Smokers
New guidelines set by the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommend yearly lung cancer screening for people who “smoke or formerly smoked and have a 20-year or greater pack-year history,” an ACS press release says.
“This updated guideline continues a trend of expanding eligibility for lung cancer screening in a way that will result in many more deaths prevented by expanding the eligibility criteria for screening to detect lung cancer early,” said Dr. Robert Smith, senior vice president, early cancer detection science at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the lung cancer screening guideline report.
Lung cancer screening is painless and lasts only a few minutes. It involves using a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT). While lying on a table, an X-ray will scan your lungs for anything unusual, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains.
“Not only do we need to include more people (in screening), we need to find ways to increase participation to maximize the benefit to people,” Dr. Andrew Kaufman, who treats lung cancer patients at The Mount Sinai health system in New York, tells SurvivorNet.
“Screening is probably the most important factor in increasing the numbers of people cured; while this is a great step forward, we remain committed to finding ways to include more and provide better access to these lifesaving tests,” Dr. Kaufman adds.
WATCH: Understanding smoking’s impact on lung cancer.
More Non-Smoking Women are Expected to Be Impacted by Lung Cancer
Meanwhile, new research on the prevalence of lung cancer between men and women spotlights a noticeable trend. The latest data highlights lung cancer risks and found that while men have traditionally had a higher incidence of lung cancer, women are expected to surpass men in cases this year.
The researchers estimate 120,790 lung cancer cases in women are expected this year compared to 117,550 cases in men.
“We’re uncovering more and more cases in people who have never smoked who have lung cancer, and they’re increasingly younger, increasingly female, and so now I think it’s starting to enter the public consciousness as the health crisis that it really is,” UCSF thoracic surgeon Dr. Johannes Kratz told KGO News.
Dr. Kratz reviewed the findings in the research paper and noted women expected to be diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 55. While researchers are still trying to learn why non-smoking women are more likely to be impacted by lung cancer, Dr. Kratz points to some possible clues.
“There are some clues. In addition to environmental factors, Dr. Kratz points to lung cancer rates in Asia, particularly in never-smoking Asian female patients. He says there appears to be something in the genetic background that causes them to get a specific type of lung cancer.”
It’s important to understand that lung cancer forms when cancer cells develop in the tissues of the lung. It is the second most common form of cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the U.S., SurvivorNet experts say. It’s “completely asymptomatic,” says thoracic surgeon-in-chief at Temple University Health System Dr. Joseph Friedberg.
“It causes no issues until it has spread somewhere. So, if it spreads to the bones, it may cause pain. If it spreads to the brain, it may cause something not subtle, like a seizure,” Dr. Friedberg adds.
Scans such as X-rays can help doctors determine if a shadow appears, which can prompt further testing for lung cancer.
Lung cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms until it has already spread outside the lungs, according to SurvivorNet’s experts.
There are two main types of lung cancer, which doctors group together based on how they act and how they’re treated:
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type and makes up about 85% of cases.
- Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is less common, but it tends to grow faster than NSCLC and is treated very differently.
If you quit smoking, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing the disease and dying from it. Researchers with the American Cancer Society say “approximately 80% of lung cancers are caused by cigarette smoking.”
Treatment options for lung cancer depend on its type, its location, and its staging. In general, treatment methods include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of any of these treatments.
Alcohol and Cancer Risk
We’re delighted to see Kate Moss celebrating her birthday and doing so without alcohol, according to Daily Mail. It possible her birthday party didn’t include alcohol as some people choose to take part in “Dry January.” and take a break from alcohol.
According to the National Cancer Institute, there is a clear link between consuming alcohol, especially drinking it regularly over time, and an increased risk of several cancers. Those cancers include head and neck, esophageal, liver, breast and colorectal.
A study published in JAMA Network Open about two years ago found that people with “heavy drinking levels had an associated higher risk” of developing alcohol-related cancers “than those who did not drink.” The study included 4.5 million participants who self-reported their drinking habits. The results concluded people who reduced their alcohol consumption lowered their risk.
Conversely, “Those with moderate or heavy drinking levels who quit drinking had a higher all cancer incidence than those who sustained their levels, but when quitting was sustained, this increase in risk disappeared.”
Additionally, the American Cancer Society warns that alcohol consumption can increase your risk for many different types of cancer. Considering cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box and esophagus, for example, alcohol “clearly” increases risk. That being said, the ACS notes that drinking and smoking together puts you at a much higher risk for these cancers than drinking or smoking alone.
Alcohol Can Increase the Risk of Developing Breast Cancer
“This might be because alcohol can help harmful chemicals in tobacco get inside the cells that line the mouth, throat, and esophagus,” the ACS website states. “Alcohol may also limit how these cells can repair damage to their DNA caused by the chemicals in tobacco.”
When it comes to liver cancer, “long-term alcohol use has been linked to an increased risk.” When you regularly drink a lot of alcohol, liver damage can occur and lead to inflammation and scarring a possible explanation for the increased risk.
We also know there’s a clear link between breast cancer and alcohol consumption. In November 2017, the American Society of Clinical Oncology published a statement citing evidence that links alcohol to multiple cancers and calling for reduced alcohol consumption as a way to cut people’s cancer risk. But many women said they had been drinking more during the pandemic, and 70 percent weren’t aware of the resulting increased cancer risk, according to a SurvivorNet survey in February 2021.
RELATED: Warning to Drinkers: ‘Strong Link’ Found Between Alcohol and Deadly Cancers
The ACS also reports that alcohol use has been linked with a higher risk of cancers of the colon and rectum with stronger evidence for this in men than in women, though studies have found the link in both sexes.
Does Alcohol Impact the Risks for Colon and Other Cancers?
Dr. Heather Yeo, a colorectal cancer surgeon at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, also previously spoke with SurvivorNet, revealing she believes alcohol increases risk for certain cancers but acknowledged that the data was mixed, especially for colon cancer.
“I do think that high levels of alcohol certainly predispose to a certain number of cancers, including pancreatic and liver cancer, and may predispose to colon cancer,” she said.
“But there’s also some data that shows that low levels of alcohol, or a glass of wine here and there, may actually lower your risk of colon cancer.”
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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