Care to Care, a Multi-Specialty Management company, is proud to observe March 8th as International Women’s Day! We honor and celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women throughout the world. We also look forward to the unbounded future accomplishments of women globally. In order to ensure continued female success, we recognize the importance of maintaining good health and we encourage females all over the world to take an active role in their healthcare. Know and follow the recommended screening guidelines for female specific cancers including Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer, as well as other lethal cancers in both men and women, Lung and Colorectal Cancer.
Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines:
- The American College of Radiology (ACR) and Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) recommend that women at average risk of breast cancer get yearly mammograms starting at age 40.
- Breast MRI is an important screening supplement to mammography in women with a greater than 20% lifetime risk of breast cancer.
- Annual clinical breast exam in women over 40.-Guidelinestal eases in order to determinerequent screening)d such as ning tests:
- r day times the number of years smoked)
Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines:
- The American Cancer Society (ACS), American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP), and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) recommend the following age-based screening guidelines:
- 21-29 Years: Cytology (Pap Test) every 3 years
- 30-65 Years: Cytology and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Co-testing every 5 years OR Cytology alone every 3 years
- >65 Years: No screening following adequate negative prior screening
Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines:
- The ACS recommends an annual screening low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) of the chest for any person who meets the following criteria:
- Age 55-74 years (The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) extends their screening recommendation to age 77)
- At least a 30 pack-year smoking history (pack-year = packs of cigarettes smoked per day times the number of years smoked)
- Current smoker or quit within the past 15 years
Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines:
- The ACS recommends that men and women with average risk of developing colorectal cancer should use one of the following screening tests (high risk individuals may require earlier and more frequent screening):
- Colonoscopy every 10 years
- CT Colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years (in situations where fiber-optic colonoscopy is contraindicated such as recent myocardial infarction, contraindication to sedation, or bleeding disorder)
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
- Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years
- Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test every year
Care to Care encourages women to take the lifesaving steps to detect these diseases in their early stages and to inspire other women to do the same. Most importantly, talk to your doctor about your personal risk for various cancers and other diseases in order to determine your appropriate screening plan.
Rachel S. Title, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Care to Care, LLC