As a physician, I’ve spent many years encouraging patients to stay up to date on recommended cancer screenings. As a breast cancer survivor, I also understand the importance of those conversations on a personal level.
Cancer affects nearly every family in some way. The good news is that many cancers can be prevented, detected earlier, or treated more successfully when people understand their risk and get the right screenings at the right time.
One of the most common misconceptions I encounter is that cancer screening recommendations are the same for everyone. In reality, age, family history, personal health history, and other factors may influence when screening should begin and which tests are most appropriate.
That’s why cancer screening is not one-size-fits-all and is most effective when tailored to individual risk.
Prevention and early detection save lives
When people think about progress in cancer care, they often think about new treatments. While treatment advances have saved many lives, prevention and early detection have been just as important.
Research looking at five major cancers — breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate — found that nearly 80% of the reduction in cancer deaths between 1975 and 2020 were the result of prevention and screening efforts rather than advances in treatment alone.
Prevention focuses on reducing cancer risk through healthy habits, vaccinations, and avoidance of known risk factors. Screening helps detect cancer early, often before symptoms develop, when treatment may be more effective.
In some cases, screening can help prevent cancer. For example, colorectal screening can identify and remove polyps before they become cancerous, while cervical screening can detect abnormal cells before they progress to cancer.
Screening recommendations have changed
Another reason to stay informed is that screening recommendations evolve.
Many people are surprised to learn that the recommended starting age for colorectal cancer screening was lowered from 50 to 45 in 2021. Breast cancer screening recommendations have also shifted in recent years, with regular mammography now recommended beginning at age 40 for many.
These changes reflect what we’ve learned through research, including the growing recognition that some cancers are being diagnosed at younger ages and that earlier screening can improve outcomes.
If you think you’re “not old enough” for screening, it’s worth having a conversation with your doctor. Recommendations that applied a decade ago may no longer be current, and factors such as family history and personal risk can influence when screening should begin.
Know your personal risk factors
General screening recommendations are designed for people at average risk. But not everyone has the same risk factors, which is why understanding your personal risk factors is so important.
Family history is one example. If a close family member was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, your doctor may recommend screening earlier than the standard starting age. A family history of breast, ovarian, or other cancers may also influence screening recommendations.
Other risk factors matter, too. A history of smoking may make someone eligible for lung cancer screening. Breast density can influence breast cancer screening recommendations. Because dense breast tissue can make cancer harder to detect on a mammogram, it’s important to know your breast density and discuss it with your doctor to determine whether additional screening may be appropriate.
Knowing your family’s health history and sharing it with your health care provider can help ensure that you receive the screenings most appropriate for your individual risk.
Many Independence Blue Cross (IBX) health plans cover recommended cancer screenings at no cost to members, making it easier to access preventive care and stay current with recommended screenings.
Prevention goes beyond screening
While screening plays a critical role, some of the most powerful opportunities to reduce cancer risk occur long before a screening test is ever performed. Prevention and early detection work together to help save lives.
Healthy habits can reduce the risk of many cancers. Avoiding tobacco remains one of the most powerful steps you can take. Research shows that smoking is linked to a significant portion of cancer cases and deaths, and reductions in smoking have prevented millions of lung cancer deaths over the past several decades. Maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, eating a balanced diet, and limiting alcohol consumption may also help lower cancer risk.
Changing lifestyle habits isn’t always easy. Whether you’re trying to quit smoking, improve your nutrition, or become more active, resources available through your health plan, including IBX programs and benefits, can help make healthy changes more sustainable.
Vaccination is another important prevention tool. The HPV vaccine helps protect against the types of human papillomavirus that can cause cervical and several other cancers, and is recommended for many people through age 45.
Start the conversation today
As both a physician and a cancer survivor, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful prevention and early detection can be. That’s why I encourage you not to wait until symptoms appear to start the conversation.
Talk with your doctor about your personal risk factors, including your family health history, your personal health history, and your lifestyle. Ask whether you’re up to date on recommended screenings and whether additional testing may be appropriate based on your individual risk.
The right screening plan looks different for everyone, but the goal is the same: Understand your risk, take steps to reduce it, and catch cancer as early as possible. The conversation you have with your doctor today could help protect your health for years to come.
