Routine health prevention screenings

There are so many different tests and screenings that can be done to detect disease and illness and start treatment early if necessary. This article will list and outline some of the most common screenings and recommendations. 

• Colon cancer screening--If you are 45 or older you qualify. This screening is stopped at age 75. Cologuard and colonoscopy are the most used tests to screen for colon cancer. Cologuard is a box shipped to your home. You provide your own sample and ship the box back. If normal, you repeat this screening every 3 years. If abnormal, a follow up colonoscopy is completed. You do not qualify for this if you have a first degree relative who has had colon cancer. Colonoscopy is a procedure done under general anesthesia. You will have a drink to consume before the procedure to clean out the colon. You will then go to a facility for this procedure which involves a camera being used to view the inside of the colon/intestines and remove any polyps. Polyps are then sent for pathology. If no polyps are identified, this screening is repeated every 10 years. If polyps are found, this test is repeated every 3-5 years. 
• lung cancer screening--this starts at age 50. If you have been a smoker for at least 20 years and are currently smoking or have quit within the past 15 years, you qualify for this screening. This is a low dose CT scan of the chest to identify any signs of nodules or masses in the lungs. This should be repeated annually. 
• Mammogram for breast cancer screening--This starts at age 40 or earlier with strong family history and should be done annually until age 55. After age 55 this can be done every two years. This screening stops at age 75. 
• Cervical cancer screening--this is done here in our office as a pelvic exam "pap smear". This starts at age 21. Between ages 21-29 this should be done every three years unless you have an abnormal pap, then we will do this every year. After age 29, this can be done every five years if the results remain normal. This screening stops at age 65. 
• Hepatitis C screening--this is done via a blood draw. This should be completed one time in all adults between the ages of 18-79
• Prostate cancer screening--This is done via a blood draw in males. This should start at age 40 for those with a family history of prostate cancer. With no family history, this is done in males starting at age 55 and completed every three years. This screening typically stops at age 69. 
• Osteoporosis screening--this should be done one time at age 65 and is a scan of the bone density to identify brittle bones which can lead to fractures. If you are started on medications to treat low bone density, this screening should be repeated every two years.