Cancer screening is a way in which doctor’s check for some forms of cancer in the body when you don't have any symptoms. The goal of cancer screening is to find those cancers that can be found as early as possible, before a person has any symptoms.
Different tests can be used to screen for different types of cancers. The age at which screening starts varies depending on the type of cancer being screened for. That's because different cancers tend to strike at different times in a person's life.
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Watch as Dr. Crystal Broussard, gastroenterologist with Pascack Valley Medical Group, discusses colon cancer awareness and screenings.
Cancer that is found early often is small and can sometimes be cured or treated easily. Treating certain cancers early can help people live longer. Sometimes, screening finds cells that do not yet show cancer, but that might turn into cancer cells. Doctors often treat this "pre-cancer" before it has a chance to become cancer.
No. Not everyone is screened for the same types of cancer. And not everyone begins cancer screening at the same age. For example, people with a family history of certain cancers might begin screening at a younger age than people without a family history. People might have repeat screening tests at different times, too. Ask your doctor or nurse:
Some of the types of cancer for which screening tests are available are: