Healthy
Survivorship: Why Screening Matters
There are now nearly 14
million cancer survivors in the United States, which means more and more people
are living with and well beyond their cancer diagnosis. That encouraging
statistic presents a new challenge for survivors: how to live well and stay as
healthy as possible after treatment ends. Taking positive steps toward long-term
good health is a smart plan for anyone who has faced cancer, but specific healthy
choices can help reduce your chances of facing another type of cancer in the
future. One of the most effective steps to lower your risk of dying from cancer
is choosing to keep up with regular cancer screenings that are right for your
age, sex, and other risk factors.
 Want to make sure you're getting the right screenings each
year? The American Cancer Society's screening reminder tools can help you keep
track of what tests you need and when. Click
here to learn more.
Our New Healthy Survivorship
Series
New Connections is excited to kick off the year with a series of
articles on healthy living after cancer. Each issue will feature an article on
the steps you can take as a cancer survivor to get well, stay well, and
celebrate more birthdays. In this issue, we'll focus on the importance of cancer
screenings. Look for more ways to live healthy in our next issue. |
Getting the recommended screening
tests increases the chances of finding any cancer that has begun to develop at
the earliest possible stage, when it's easier to treat. For example, a colonoscopy
is one of the tests doctors may use to screen for colon cancer. During a
colonoscopy, doctors look for signs of colon cancer and check for colon
polyps – smaller growths that are benign at the time but have the potential
to become cancerous. A suspicious polyp can be removed before it ever has a
chance to become cancer. Getting regular screening tests gives doctors a chance
to detect any dangerous growths or changes since the last test. That's one
reason why screenings are such an important key to long-term health.
Experts recommend regular cancer screening tests for most adults,
including people who have had cancer. A history of cancer might mean you're at
greater risk for having another type of cancer in the future. Some cancer
treatments can also increase your risk for certain types of cancer later on.
Even if your care team is already monitoring you after your cancer treatment,
you still need to be screened for other cancers for which you may be at risk.
The American Cancer Society has a list of recommended
cancer screenings. Talk to your care team about these screening tests and
ask if you might need more frequent or additional tests.
No matter where
you are in your cancer journey, you want to do all you can to stay as healthy as
possible. By getting the recommended screenings for your age and cancer risk,
you are taking the first step toward long-term better health. |
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