CANCER SCREENING GUIDELINES

WORDS BY CHIRAG PATEL, MD PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK ISHMAN

For both men and women over age 50, recommended cancer screenings include colon cancer and in certain cases lung cancer. Men also test for prostate cancer and women for breast and cervical cancers.

Colon cancer screening starts at age 50, although screening is recommended at an earlier age in high risk family history cases. Various testing options are available including fecal immunochemical test (FIT), guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT), stool DNA test, or MT-sDNA, CT colonography or virtual colonoscopy, and the colonoscopy. Capsule endoscopy is a newer procedure where the patient swallows a capsule with cameras on each end taking thousands of pictures, transmitted wirelessly to a recorder. Although less invasive than the colonoscopy, it is not the first choice for cancer screening and more often is used for small intestinal surveillance, where scopes cannot reach.

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. Lung cancer screening is considered on a case by case basis. In patients with a chronic smoking history, lowdose CT scans are recommended for early lung cancer detection. The frequency of these scans should be determined by your primary physician or lung specialist (pulmonologist).

For men, prostate cancer screening is recommended at age 50 onward. The common blood test called the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is often ordered with routine blood testing performed on a yearly basis. However, the PSA is not specific for prostate cancer as its level can be elevated due to other conditions such as infection, elevated parathyroid hormone, or an enlarged prostate. Physicians have varying opinions on whether to test and how frequently testing should occur.

Women with an average risk of breast cancer should undergo regular screening mammography starting at age 45. Women aged 45 to 54 years should be screened annually. Women 55 years and older should screen every other year. Screening should continue biennially with a life expectancy of 10 years or longer. Other newer testing includes blood marker tests and MRI of the breast, although these tests should not replace the mammogram screening.

All women should begin cervical cancer testing (screening) at age 21. Women aged 21 to 29, should have a Pap test every 3 years. At age 30, a pap test is combined with an HPV test every 5 years. This interval testing should continue until the age of 65. The testing interval changes based on test results, high-risk factors, and other medical conditions based on your primary care and/or gynecologist’s recommendations.

There are always exceptions to the rule, so be sure discuss your personal health and cancer screening with your primary care physician.

Hansa Medical Groupe has offices at 5250 Old Orchard Road, Suite 300, in Skokie, and in Chicago, 847-920-0902, hansamedicalgroupe.com.

The Right Bathroom Fan Matters

Reduce the chances of mold or condensation damage to your home while creating a healthier indoor air environment for your family. From simple renovation to full-scale remodel, no bathroom makeover is complete without an energy-efficient, whisper-quiet ventilation solution from Panasonic. Our bathroom fans create cleaner, healthier environments for families big and small. These powerful, Energy Star® fans can be easily managed with humidity sensors to clear moisture and motion sensors that automatically activate the fan when someone enters the room. A built-in timer will even turn the unit off to reduce home energy costs.

WORDS BY STEVEN BLOCH, M.D.

Plastic Surgery Update: Male Breast Reduction

Gynecomastia or over development of the male breast is a common condition. Some studies indicate that the incidence may be as high as 25 percent. It may be the result of heredity, disease, or the use of certain drugs. For many, it begins in puberty. If the case is mild it may disappear on its own. For more significant cases surgery is usually needed.

Gynecomastia can cause significant emotional problems and impair one’s self-confidence. Often it causes the male to avoid certain physical activities and intimacy.

In general, gynecomastia can surgically be treated by removing excess fat, glandular tissue, and/or skin. More mild cases can often be successfully treated non-invasively with either CoolSculpt or Liposonix. Both of these technologies destroy some of the underlying fat in a targeted fashion.

For larger cases, liposuction or open surgical intervention is required. Liposuction techniques have advanced to the point that it can be used to treat most cases. Newer techniques using Laser Assisted Liposuction or Ultrasound Assisted Laser help to tighten the overlying skin, avoiding large incisions. In the case of more glandular tissue, this can often be removed through the same liposuction incision with instruments that can grind up the glandular tissue so that it too can be suctioned out.

The procedure is usually performed under light sedation on an outpatient basis. Risks and complications are usually mild but, like any procedure, may involve contour irregularities and bleeding. Occasionally other procedures may involve nipple reduction or areola reduction. This may be done either at the same time or as a secondary procedure. I have found over the years that these patients tend to be some of the most grateful. For many, it gives them the self-confidence to enjoy their bodies and participate in activities that they once avoided.

For additional information, visit bodybybloch.com or Dr. Bloch can be reached at his Highland Park office at 847-432-0840.