Regular cancer screenings may lead to early detection

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, elective medical procedures, including cancer screening, were largely put on hold to prioritize urgent needs and reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19 in healthcare settings. One major consequence of this has been a decline in cancer screening.

As cities, states, and other authorities re-open businesses and ease restrictions, consider prioritizing your health by making an appointment for a check-up, vaccination or screening so that you can live your healthiest life. Regular exams can help find problems early, when your chances for treatment and cure are better.

Checking for cancer (or for abnormal cells that may become cancer) in people who have no symptoms is called screening. Screening can help doctors find and treat several types of cancer early, before they cause symptoms. Early detection is important because when abnormal tissue or cancer is detected early, before they’ve had a chance to grow and spread, it may be easier to treat or cure.

It is important to remember that when your doctor suggests a screening test, it does not always mean he/she thinks you have cancer. Screening tests are performed when a person has no cancer symptoms. Every screening test has both benefits and harms, which is why it’s important to understand your risk and make an informed decision about which screening tests are right for you.

Routine exams and screenings for various types of cancers, such as skin, colon, cervix, and breast, can increase your chances of early detection and successful treatment. Join us for a free virtual with Jessica Berman, MD, oncologist and hematologist, Chestnut Hill Hospital, to learn more about risk factors, screening frequency, and how early detection can help save lives.
Registration is required: www.CHWellnessEvents.com.