Are you aware of the screening recommendations for colorectal, cervical and breast cancer? Cancer screening sees what you can’t. Be sure to follow these guidelines and talk to your loved ones about getting screened:
- Men and women 50 to 74 years of age with no family history of colorectal cancer – it’s best if you do a take-home stool test every two years. If a parent, sibling or child has had colorectal cancer, have a colonoscopy at age 50 or ten years earlier than the family member’s age at diagnosis.
- All women who are or have ever been sexually active – arrange to have a Pap test every three years starting at age 21. Pap tests can stop at age 70 if women have had three or more normal tests in the prior ten years.
- Women aged 50 to 74 years – go for a mammogram every two years at the Ontario Breast Screening Program. Women aged 30-69 years who think they may be at high risk for breast cancer because of their family or personal medical history should ask their doctor if they need high risk screening.
Talk to your healthcare provider today about screening, or find out when you should start screening for cancer by visiting Screen for Life.
Also be sure to check out MyCancerIQ, an innovative cancer risk assessment tool that helps indicate your potential risk of developing breast, cervical, colorectal and lung cancer. MyCancerIQ is specifically designed for Ontarians and builds a tailored profile to highlight your cancer risk relative to other Ontarians your age and gender. It also provides you with a personalized health action plan so you can immediately act to reduce your cancer risk.
Other tips to improve your health and reduce your cancer risk:
- Eat well: how about a piece of fruit or some vegetables for a snack?
- Be active: take a 10-minute walk during your lunch break.
- Be tobacco-free: if you smoke, try to make a plan to quit.
- Avoid or limit how much alcohol you drink.
- Be sun-safe, and avoid indoor tanning.
