Cancer is a serious and common condition, and the American Cancer Society estimates that there were 1.9 million cancer diagnoses in 2022 alone. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people die due to cancer. Fortunately, your prognosis could greatly increase if cancer is caught early. This makes cancer screenings vital, but how often should you have them? As we’ll see, that’ll depend on a lot of different factors. Want to schedule a cancer screening at a medical practice in Berwyn and Elmhurst, IL, and serving LaGrange, IL? Contact the Suburban Surgical Associates/Suburban Metabolic Institute. Our team of doctors can provide many different types of screenings.
Before looking into specifics, if your instincts are telling you that something’s wrong, or you notice a potential sign of cancer, such as an unexplainable lump, it’s wise to see a doctor. It might be nothing, but even if so, peace of mind can go a long way. Should your instincts prove right, early intervention could prove to be a lifesaver.
Common Cancer Screenings and When To Have Them
First, there are many different types of cancer. How often you should get a screening will depend on the potential cancer and also various risk factors (more on those later). A woman between the ages of 45 and 54 should undergo a mammogram (breast cancer screening) every year. After the age of 55, many women can start getting a mammogram every other year, although you may opt to continue with annual screenings.
Adults between the ages of 45 and 75 should be screened for colon cancer. There are many different types of colon tests and how often you should be screened will largely depend on risk factors. High-risk individuals will need to be screened more often than low-risk individuals. A low-risk individual may need a colonoscopy only about once every decade. If you need to schedule a cancer screening at a medical provider in Berwyn and Elmhurst, IL, and serving LaGrange, IL, visit the Suburban Surgical Associates/Suburban Metabolic Institute.
It's also wise to consider family history. If family members have suffered certain types of cancer, you may want to get screened for them. By working with medical professionals, you can identify risks and then mitigate them. Need to schedule a cancer screening at a medical practice in Berwyn and Elmhurst, IL, and serving LaGrange, IL? Dial (708) 484-0621 to reach Suburban Surgical Associates/Suburban Metabolic Institute.