sfw | HEALTH
Preventive Health Screenings You Should Not Postpone Now is the time to take care of any screenings that you’ve put off By Sanford Health
H
ave you put off a health screening because of the pandemic and not rescheduled it? Many have. Now it’s time to get back on track. The following health screenings are crucial to establishing and maintaining good health and for detecting disease at an early stage.
COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING Colorectal cancer is 90% treatable when detected early. Screenings can also find noncancerous colon polyps or colon cancer early, when they can be easily removed or cured. Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cancer killer in America (among men and women when combined). Patients age 45 and older should be screened every 10 years, or more often as determined by their physician. About 90 percent of people diagnosed with colon cancer are older than 50. SANFORD HEALTH OFFERS THESE SCREENINGS: Colonoscopy: A procedure that looks for cancerous or pre-cancerous polyps in the colon using a camera and light on a flexible tube. Patients should be screened every 10 years, or more often as determined by their physician. FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test): A test that helps detect bleeding in the digestive tract, which could be a sign of colorectal cancer. Patients should be screened every year. If screening comes back irregular, a colonoscopy is needed. FIT-DNA test: A highly accurate test that checks for tumor-specific DNA changes. Patients should be screened every 3 years. If screening comes back irregular, a colonoscopy is needed. CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING Cervical cancer is preventable. In addition to screening, HPV vaccination is also encouraged for most patients. There’s nothing right now that can prevent ovarian cancer, but women who make some lifestyle choices can reduce their risk. 48
SiouxFallsWoman.net | April/May 2022
