Now is the time – don’t forget about routine cancer screenings

Cancer diagnoses are increasing, and people are getting diagnosed at a younger age, so recommended screenings like colonoscopy and mammogram are shifting earlier.

But when to get those screenings can be confusing. A friend the same age as you might have started screening at a younger age or might get screened more frequently than you do. This is because different professional organizations follow different guidelines, and your friend might be at higher risk due to personal or family history.

Here are the latest guidelines for when to go for screenings.

Breast cancer

Mammograms are now recommended beginning at age 40 for women with an average risk of breast cancer. The U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce recommends a mammogram every other year, but some professional groups recommend annual mammograms. Talk to your healthcare provider about what is best for you.

Women with an increased risk for breast cancer – determined in large part by family and medical history – are eligible for screening with MRI as early as 25 years old. To that end, it is recommended that all women undergo a formal breast cancer risk assessment by 25 years old.

“We know that screening reduces the risk of death by up to 50 percent in patients with breast cancer who have been coming in for screening mammograms,” said Jessica Kuehn-Hajder, MD, a breast imaging radiologist at M Health Fairview and Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

Learn more about how to assess your risk for breast cancer. If you’re at an increased risk, the M Health Fairview Cancer Risk Management Program may be able to provide you with additional support.

Colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is among the most prevalent forms of cancer in the United States, and an increasing number of people under age 55 are getting diagnosed. The American Cancer Society and U.S. Preventive Health Taskforce recommend that all adults at an average risk of colorectal cancer start screening regularly at age 45.

Options for colorectal cancer screening vary. A colonoscopy is recommended for those at higher risk for the disease. For those at average risk, there are a number of other options. Stool tests might be recommended yearly or every three years.

“If you get a high-quality colonoscopy, that’s the best option – but it’s important that it’s a high-quality exam. The problem with stool tests is that they find cancers pretty well, but they don’t find most polyps,” said Piet de Groen, MD, a gastroenterologist with M Health Fairview and professor in University of Minnesota Medical School who performs colonoscopies at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center. “There’s a risk that someone has a polyp that doesn’t get detected by a stool test, and then it progresses to cancer.”

One way that patients can help improve the quality of a colonoscopy, says de Groen, is by following the necessary preparations. The goal in the days leading up to the exam is to get the colon as clean as possible, so that doctors have a better view of potential polyps.

For people with a prior poor colon preparation, prior abdominal surgery, diabetes, constipation, or other unique conditions, it can be harder to get the colon clean. It’s important to have a conversation with the endoscopy scheduling team or, if needed, your doctor to be sure you understand all the necessary steps in the colon preparation that is most appropriate for you.

As with breast cancer, certain factors make people more likely to develop colorectal cancer. For more information, as well as screening guidelines for higher-risk individuals, visit the ACS website.

Cervical cancer

People with a cervix are recommended to get cervical cancer screenings. Frequency is based on age. For people at average risk ages 21 to 29, screen every three years with a Pap test.

People at average risk between 30 and 65 should get screened every three years if they get a Pap test alone. If they get a Pap test along with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) test, screening is recommended every five years.

Lung cancer

A yearly low-dose CT scan for lung cancer is recommended for adults between ages 50 and 80 who have at least a 20-pack year history of smoking and currently smoke or quit within the last 15 years. Pack years are determined by multiplying the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day by the number of years you smoked. So if you smoked two packs a day for 30 years, you have 60 pack years.

Prostate cancer

Men, if you’ve been dreading seeing your primary care provider due to the threat of a prostate exam, go ahead and schedule that appointment. Prostate cancer screenings are no longer the default. Instead, men are encouraged to talk to their primary care providers about whether screening is right for them.

That’s because many prostate cancers grow slowly and never cause issues. Prostate cancer screenings can only tell you if cancer is present. They can’t show how aggressive it is. For some men, finding cancer and treating it with surgery or radiation is far more disruptive than living with the cancer would have been.

Here are the guidelines for those who choose to get tested:

• Age 50 for men who are at average risk of prostate cancer and are expected to live at least 10 more years.
• Age 45 for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer. This includes Black men and men who have a first-degree relative (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65).
• Age 40 for men at even higher risk of prostate cancer, including those with more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age.

Skin cancer

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, making it the most common type of cancer. There isn’t a set schedule for when people should get skin cancer checks, but it is important to get familiar with your own skin. The American Academy of Dermatologists has recommendations for what to look for in a self-skin check.

Pay attention to the size and shape of any moles, and if you notice anything new or changing, especially if that spot is itchy, bleeding, or feels different than other areas of your skin, schedule a checkup with your primary care provider or dermatologist. Your primary care provider can also offer recommendations for when to see a dermatologist if you have risk factors, such as a first-degree relative with skin cancer or a history of sunbed use.

How to schedule your screening

We offer cancer screenings throughout the Twin Cities metro and central Minnesota. To schedule:

• Ask your primary care team if they can help you set up a screening that’s right for you based on medical history.
• Schedule a screening through your Fairview MyChart account. If you don’t have a MyChart account, you can create a new account here. 
• Find a healthcare provider or learn more about your care options at M Health Fairview.
• Call 1-855-324-7843