Cancer is one of the most pressing health challenges the country faces today. There were an estimated 800,000 cases of cancer last year with this number expected to increase over time. One of the ways to overcome this challenge is to prevent it or to detect it early. Herein lies the role of cancer screening.Cancer screening implies the conduct of regular check ups and testing to detect precancer or to detect cancer early.. By detecting cancer at an early stage, screening tests can help prevent cancer-related deaths and improve treatment outcomes. There are various common cancers for which screening can be done:-

Early Detection Matters: Common Cancers

Breast Cancer: Women aged 45-54 should get a mammogram every year with an option to begin screening by 40 years of age.Those with a family history may have to begin screening even earlier.Women 55 and older should switch to mammograms every 2 yearly
Colorectal cancer: Consider starting regular screening at age 45. This can be done either with a stool-based test, or with an exam that looks at the colon and rectum ( colonoscopy/ sigmoidoscopy).For people ages 76 through 85, talk with your health care provider about whether continuing to get screened is right for you.People over 85 should no longer get colorectal cancer screening.
Prostate cancer: Starting at age 50,men should talk to a health care provider about the pros and cons of testing so they can decide if testing is the right choice for them.If you have a father or brother who had prostate cancer before age 65, you should have this talk with a health care provider starting at age 45.If you decide to be tested, you should get a PSA blood test with or without a rectal exam.
Cervical cancer: Screening for women should start at age 25.Women between the ages of 25 and 65 should get a HPV (human papillomavirus) test done every 5 years.If a primary HPV test is not available, a co-test (an HPV test with a Pap test) every 5 years or a Pap test every 3 years are still good option

Conclusion

Cancer screening is a crucial tool in the early detection and treatment of cancer. If you wish to find out more don't hesitate to schedule an appointment with your doctor