The Importance of Colorectal Cancer Screening

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By Ashley Peoples| UAB Community Health and Human Services Intern

Photo by SHVETS production on Pexels.com

Have you been screened for colorectal cancer recently, or ever? Well, it may be time for a routine screening if you have not. Colorectal cancer screening is used to detect colorectal cancer. According to the CDC (2023), the screening test will look for cancer when a person does not have symptoms. The development of colorectal cancer comes from precancerous polyps in the colon rectum. The purpose of screening is to look for early detection of cancer. The age for screening has changed from 50 to 45-75 years old due to prevention. According to the CDC, if you are 76-85 years old, you should speak to your doctor about screening. Also, it is essential to know what colorectal cancer screenings are available.

The CDC has created a campaign called “Screen for Life: National Colorectal Cancer Action Campaign.” This campaign presents information to men and women 45 years and older on how imperative it is to get screened for colorectal cancer. The campaign was created in 1999 and is an excellent source for many people who do not know about colorectal cancer screening.

 Below are a few messages stated by the CDC through their campaign, “Screen for Life: National Colorectal Cancer Action Campaign,” that I found excellent motivators for health promotion.

  • “Screening for colorectal cancer saves lives.”
  • “Screening helps find colorectal cancer early when treatment can be very effective.”
  • “You need to get screened even if you have no family history. Most colorectal cancers occur in people with no family history of the disease”.

I urge you to get screened for colorectal cancer if you are 45 years or older, have never been screened, or if it is time for your routine screening. Getting recommended screenings is one of the most important things you can do for your health.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023a, January 25). Screen for Life: National Colorectal Cancer Action Campaign. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/sfl/index.htm

The Importance of Prostate Screening

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Angela R. Wilson | UAB Community Health & Human Services Intern

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.co

Many men prolong getting a prostate exam or do not get one at all.  The reasons vary and include things like thinking they are not old enough to have a prostate exam or believing there is no reason for a prostate exam because they feel okay.  This approach can adversely impact your health by increasing your risk of prostate cancer.  

According to the American Cancer Society (2023), men should start screening for prostate cancer at 50.  However, African American men and men with a history of first-degree relatives, like a father or a brother, who have been diagnosed with Prostate cancer are at a higher risk. They should begin screening as early as 45. Men who have more than one first-degree relative should start their screening by the time they reach age 40. Although cancer screenings are essential, they are not recommended for men 75 and older because the risks outweigh the benefit in this age group.

So, what is a prostate exam? A prostate exam allows a doctor to check the male’s prostate by carefully inserting a gloved finger into his rectum. This allows the doctor to check for abnormalities, lumps, tenderness, hard spots, or swelling in a male’s prostate. The screening is quick (usually lasting only a few seconds) and not painful, although men have complained that it is relatively uncomfortable. If your results are abnormal, your doctor may need to conduct further testing like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a prostate biopsy to look for signs of cancer (John Hopkins Medicine, 2023).

Prostate screening allows cancer to be detected in its infancy, offering more treatment options, improving survivability, and extending life expectancy.  Prostate screening is one of the most essential things a male can do to find cancers before they spread, so please get in touch with your doctor to schedule an appointment. Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

References

 American Cancer Society. (2023). American Cancer Society Recommendationos For Prostate Cancer. https://www.cancer.org.

John Hopkins Medicine.  (2023). Prostate Cancer Screening.  https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org.

Rochester Regional Health. (2021). Prostate Exams: Do You Really Need One?. https://hive.rochesterregional.org.