Stop Cancer Before It Starts

April showers bring May flowers, and an April screen can ensure you are cancer-clean.

That’s the gist of a new but important healthcare awareness event celebrated in April, National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month. Officially designated in 2024, this awareness month aims to educate the public about cancer prevention through healthy behaviors and routine screenings, empowering all of us to take proactive steps toward a healthier life.

The healthy behaviors suggested by this and so many other health campaigns are exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, drinking alcohol in moderation or not at all, and not smoking. When it comes to cancer, a lifestyle that encourages healthy habits and eliminates known carcinogens is worth more than the proverbial ounce of prevention. Your primary care provider at Andalusia Health can provide expert guidance to help put you on a healthier path.

The “early detection” component of National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month is where Andalusia Health offers equally critical expertise and capabilities. Most cancers are treatable – some even preventable – through the early detection that occurs through regular screenings.

Andalusia Health provides the most common cancer screenings essential to early detection. These include:

• Colonoscopy screenings, which are recommended every 10 years for people at average risk of colorectal cancer, starting at age 45 and continuing up to age 75. A colonoscopy can detect and remove polyps, which can be precursors to potential cancers.
• Mammograms, which are recommended for women at average risk for breast cancer beginning at age 40 and then annually starting at age 45. Mammograms are more effective at catching cancer early, when it is easier to treat.
• Prostate screenings, which should be considered by men aged 40-69, especially if they have a family history of prostate cancer. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test helps determine the frequency of future screenings.
• Low-dose CT screenings, which are recommended for smokers or former smokers aged 50 to 77. Low-dose CT scans provide better imaging of your lungs than traditional X-rays with less exposure to radiation.

To find out which screenings might be appropriate for you, talk with your primary care provider. If you don’t have a primary care provider, you can find one of Andalusia Health’s skilled practitioners here.

A healthier lifestyle and regular screenings this April awareness event and year-round will likely put a lot more spring in your step – for a lot more Springs!