Courtesy Roswell Park Cancer Talk Blog

Spring is the perfect time to commit to healthier habits and positive changes. That’s why Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Care Center is encouraging people to make appointments for life-saving cancer screenings.

Lung Cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., where tobacco use accounts for 80% of lung cancer deaths and 40% of all cancer deaths. The New York State Smokers’ Quitline at Roswell Park helps eligible individuals who want to quit smoking with support and free stop-smoking medications. See www.nysmokefree.com or call 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487). Roswell Park also provides low-dose CT screening for people ages 50 and older who have smoked in the last 15 years (even if you’ve quit) and those who smoked at least a pack of cigarettes daily for 20 years (or an equal amount). Call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) to see if you should be screened.

Colorectal Cancer. Colorectal cancer remains the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and women and is expected to cause about 52,980 deaths in 2021. Although colorectal cancer deaths have decreased overall in recent years, they have increased among people younger than 55. Younger Black men and women are more likely to get colorectal cancer and die of it than any other racial group for reasons not yet fully understood. About 90% of people who die from colorectal cancer are over the age of 50, but people under age 50 diagnosed with the disease are more likely to have advanced cancer by the time it is discovered. This year, about 12% of colorectal cancer cases will occur in people under 50. Most people at average risk should begin routine colorectal screening at age 45.

Prostate Cancer. Black men are one and a half times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than twice as likely to die from it. Prostate cancer is also the most-diagnosed cancer in Hispanic men. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends early prostate cancer screening for Black men, or any men with fathers or brothers who had prostate cancer, especially if they were under the age of 60 at the time of diagnosis. If genetic testing has revealed that you have a mutation linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer, it is recommended that you be screened by age 45.

Breast and Cervical Cancer. Routine screening for breast cancer is encouraged for women starting at age 40. Black women are not diagnosed with breast cancer as frequently as white women, but are more likely to die from it. Women should be screened for cervical cancer starting at age 21, with regular Pap tests every three years between the ages of 21-29. Women between the ages of 30-65 should have regular Pap tests and HPV tests every five years. Women diagnosed with cervical pre-cancer should continue to be screened after the age of 65.

With many cancers linked to obesity, warmer weather provides more opportunities to get outside, to enjoy fresh air and exercise. Getting 15 to 30 minutes of physical activity a day can make a difference. Spring is a great time to refresh, restart healthy habits, and get screened. To make an appointment to get screened, call 1-800-767-9355.