Maryland's Health Matters - Midtown - Fall 2016 - 13

AT A G L A N C E

TAKE ACTION:
GET SCREENED

For certain types of cancer, having regular screening
tests increases the chances that the disease will be
detected early, when it's most likely to be curable. Here
are the tests you should have, along with when and how
often to have them.

Lung Cancer CT Scan

Men and women 55 to 74: If you have at least a 30 packyear smoking history (defined as one pack a day for
30 years or two packs a day for 15 years) and you are either
still smoking or have quit within the past 15 years, you should
get a low-dose CT scan (LDCT) of the chest every year.

NOTE: If you are at high risk for cancer because of
a family history or other factors, you may need to
be screened at an earlier age or more frequently.

Colon and
Rectal Cancer
Screening

Men and women
50 and older
should get one
of the following:
* Colonoscopy
(every 10 years)
* Flexible sigmoidoscopy (every
five years)
* Double-contrast
barium enema
(every five years)
* CT colonography
(every five years)

Mammogram
(Breast X-Ray)
Women 40 and
older: A yearly
test is recommended.

Pap Test

Women 21 to 29: Once every
three years.
Women 30 to 65: A Pap test
once every three years, or
a Pap test and an HPV test
once every five years.
Women older than 65: May stop
testing if they have had normal
results in the past 10 years.

Other
Ways to
Reduce
Your
Risk
Lifestyle measures can
make a big difference
in your risk for cancer.
In addition to getting
recommended screenings, the American
Cancer Society advises:
on't smoke or
* Dchew
tobacco.
A

chieve
* maintainand
a healthy

*
*

Prostate Cancer Test

Men 50 and older: Talk to a health care provider
about the pros and cons of getting the prostatespecific antigen (PSA) blood test, with or without
a digital rectal exam. Men who are African-American
or who have a first-degree relative who had prostate
cancer before age 65 should consider beginning
tests at age 45. Those who have more than one
first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at any
age should consider beginning testing at age 40.

Sources: Mammograms: American College of Radiology and Society of Breast Imaging; Other tests: American Cancer Society

*
*
*

weight.
Engage in regular
physical activity.
Eat a healthy diet
with lots of fruits
and vegetables.
Limit consumption
of alcoholic
beverages.
Protect your skin
from the harmful
rays of the sun.
Understand your
family history
and personal risks
for cancer.

umm.edu/midtown | Fall 2016 13

http://umm.edu/midtown

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland's Health Matters - Midtown - Fall 2016