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Contrary to popular belief, what you don't know can hurt you — especially when it comes to cancer.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, despite the effectiveness of cancer screenings, only 25 percent of adults aged 50 to 64 in the United States, and fewer than 40 percent of adults aged 65 and older are up to date on these services.
“Unfortunately I see this all the time, but it never fails to surprise me. People think they're doing fine and don't want to know or be told otherwise, so they avoid screenings. It's denial. They don't want to go there,” said Dr. Gary Thomas, chief medical director of South Carolina Cancer Specialists. “That translates into a lot of lives that could be saved. So many cancers don't have an effective screening process, so it's important to take advantage of the ones that are available.”
To allay people's fears when it comes to preventive measures and also address other factors that contribute to keeping cancer in the unknown category, Thomas offers the following advice to start making personal health a priority:
Educate yourself
Aside from not wanting to hear a bad diagnosis, people often fail to get screened because they fear the process or don't know what is available to them.
“People are petrified of a colonoscopy, but they don't understand it's a simple process,” Thomas said. “Lack of understanding what's involved or how much it might cost leads to them not taking care of themselves.”
For thorough descriptions of what to expect from mammograms, Pap tests, colonoscopies, biopsies, the prostate-specific antigen test and other imaging tests, go to www.cancer.org and do a search for “Prevention & Early Detection.”
The American Cancer Society Web site includes information about how to prepare for a specific screening, what happens during the test, whether or not the procedure is covered by insurance and how to receive assistance if it is not.
Cancer information specialists are also available 24 hours a day to answer questions and locate resources for patients at 1-800-227-2345.
Quit smoking
Even though most people associate smoking with increasing your risk for lung cancer, tobacco use actually is linked to at least 15 different cancers and accounts for more than 30 percent of all cancer deaths.
“If tobacco were outlawed, the incidence of cancer would be cut in half,” Thomas said.
Stick to the schedule
Although a number of recommendations are available online with regard to when folks should make an appointment to see a doctor for exams and screenings related to cancer, Thomas said the most reliable guidelines are set forth by the American Cancer Society and updated regularly.
“Make sure your doctor is up to date,” he said. “Colon cancer is almost 100 percent preventable, and mammograms are very critical. I had a patient who usually never missed a mammogram, but she skipped it one year because of a wedding and ended up with advanced breast cancer. You've got to be religious about following the guidelines.”
