Three Preventative Screenings You Should Know
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Preventative screenings,
like mammograms and colonoscopy, help doctors and patients proactively
monitor an individual’s changing health. Although every screening is
different and nothing can guarantee 100% accuracy in every case, the
preventative screenings recommended by doctors are the best technology
available to find cancer and other ailments early and effectively. At
Southtowns Radiology, we provide three common preventative screenings
for both men and women.
1. Mammograms screen women for breast cancer typically beginning
at age 40. The American Cancer Society recommends women have a
baseline mammogram at age 40 or sooner if there is a family history of
breast cancer. Mammograms are an annual exam and it is important for
women to keep current with their yearly mammograms because breast health
changes from year to year. Between visits, it’s also important for
women to have a clinical breast exam with their doctor and continue to
do a monthly self-breast exam at home.
2. Bone density tests are recommended by the National
Osteoporosis Foundation for women or men over the age of 50. A quick
and painless scan, bone densitometry screens for osteoporosis and
provides an analysis of the overall bone health of an individual. Your
doctor can help determine what your risk factors are for bone loss and
with that information will determine how frequently you should continue
screening.
3. Both men and women should have a colonoscopy beginning at age
50 to screen for colon cancer or polyps, as recommended by the Colon
Cancer Foundation. This scan should be done every ten years after that.
Most patients have a traditional colonoscopy but in some cases, based
on the patient’s medical history, a doctor may recommend a virtual
colonoscopy in a CT machine. At Southtowns Radiology, we offer CT
Virtual Colonoscopy for patients with whom traditional colonoscopy is
not an option.
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It is always best to see your
doctor annually and review what preventative health screenings you
should be doing. The American Cancer Society website is also a great
resource to learn more about recommended guidelines and stay on top of
your own health. Visit them at www.cancer.org for more information.