- Annual
cancer screenings save thousands of lives every year by catching treatable cancers early. - Women ages 50 and under should get screened regularly for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer.
- Reduce your risk of cancer by eating right, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and wearing sunscreen.
Cancer is a scary topic. Often, we'd rather not think about it, and sometimes that means putting off important, potentially life-saving yearly cancer screenings like mammograms and pap smears.
According to a press release from the CDC in 2015, 1 in 5 women were not up to date with their cervical cancer screenings and 1 in 4 were not up to date on their annual breast exams.
However, there are shifting perspectives on how often you should be screened for cancer, says Kathryn Rexrode, MD, chief of the division of women's
Important: The ongoing COVID19 crisis has dissuaded many from attending non-emergency doctors appointments. Though the number isn't clear, it's estimated that this could result in thousands of deaths from preventable cancer diagnoses. Doctor's offices are an essential business and operate with extreme precaution and safety, therefore yearly checkups are still encouraged despite the ongoing pandemic.
Here's what annual cancer screenings two doctors who specialize in preventive medicine recommended for women aged 21-50 , and what else to do to drastically lower the risk of cancer.
How to reduce your risk of cancer
The best way to reduce your risk of developing cancer is to create healthy, lifelong habits. Getting annual cancer screenings shouldn't replace taking preventive steps to maintain your health.
"Screening isn't always enough, it's not preventing cancer. Screening is finding an early cancer so we can treat it, rather than preventing it, which is what the behavioral factors would be," says Rexrode.
Additionally, there are many cancers like pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer that are difficult to catch with screenings.
1. Avoid alcohol
Alcohol significantly elevates the risk of developing breast cancer, among others, says Rexrode.
Important: While alcohol should be avoided entirely, women are recommended to drink no more than seven drinks (or one drink per day) a week, according to the American Cancer Society.
"It tends to not be a message people love to hear, but in terms of the major factors that have been shown to modify your long-term cancer risk, alcohol is pretty much up there," Rexrode says.
2. Don't smoke, or if you do, stop
Tobacco increases your risk of cancer significantly. A frequent smoker increases their likelihood of developing lung cancer by 15% 30% according to the CDC. Even smoking socially can increase your risk of developing other cancers like uterine cervix cancer, and esophageal cancer.
Smoking and chewing tobacco should be avoided entirely. Even if you have a history of smoking, quitting will still reduce your risk of developing cancer by 40% according to John Hopkins Medicine.
3. Get the HPV vaccine and practice safe sex
Contracting HPV is a risk factor for developing cervical cancer, among others. The Gardasil vaccine protects against the cancer causing strains of HPV.
Most people receive the vaccine between the ages of 11 and 12, however, it is recommended for adults up to the age of 26. Talk to your doctor about receiving the vaccine if you're between the ages of 27 and 45.
4. Eat a balanced diet
Obesity and a poor diet are also risk factors for cancer. One in five cancer cases are related to having a poor diet, being overweight, and not exercising. However, eating a mainly plant-focused diet reduces your risk of developing cancer, says Therese Bevers, a women's cancer specialist at MD Anderson Cancer Institute.
What the research says: Obesity was estimated to cause 72,000 incidences of cancer in women in 2012, according to Cancer.gov.
5. Exercise regularly
"You should be getting at least 150 minutes of exercise per week to reduce your risk of cancer," says Bevers.
Along with maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise and a generally well-balanced diet are linked to reducing cancer risk for at least 13 types of cancer according to the American Cancer Society. This includes colorectal cancer, breast cancer, cancer of the larynx and pharynx, mouth cancer, kidney cancer, stomach cancer, and liver cancer.
6. Wear SPF
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. Over one million people are diagnosed with it per year and there are nearly 15,000 reported skin cancer related deaths annually.
Wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 30 daily and covering your skin with protective clothing (like long sleeves, a hat, and long pants) can help reduce your risk of developing skin cancer significantly, says Bevers. Avoiding direct sunlight all together is the best way to prevent skin cancer. You should especially avoid the sun from 10am to 4 pm when its rays are the strongest.
Additionally, do not use tanning beds as these also put you at risk for skin cancer.
If you're worried avoiding the sun will diminish your vitamin D levels, fear not. Vitamin D can be found in a multitude of foods like fish and mushroom.
7. Schedule regular cancer screenings
The guidelines for cancer screenings listed on most sites are for people who have a normal risk of developing cancer, meaning they aren't tailored toward people with a family history or other related risk factor for cancer.
You and your primary care physician can evaluate your risk and discuss the frequency you should be screened for cancer and if you should get genetic testing done, says Rexrode. Here are some important cancer screenings that women ages 21-50 should get:
Cervical cancer
The American Cancer Society recommends that women 25-65 receive annual pap-smears for cervical cancer screenings.
A pap smear tests for abnormal cells in the cervical tissue that may indicate the growth or development of cervical cancer.
You can also get a Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) test.
Medical term: HPV is a highly contagious sexually transmitted infection that can be passed through oral, anal, and vaginal sex. Many sexually active people have some strain of
HPV or will contract it at some point in their lifetimes. Having HPV increases your risk of developing cervical cancer, depending on what strain of HPV you have and if you have a weakened immune system.
Breast cancer
The American Cancer Society recommends women 40-44 should begin regular breast cancer testing. This will include yearly mammograms to ensure you don't have abnormal breast tissue.
However, you should regularly monitor your breasts for any lumps you may have.
In addition to this, it's important to know what your breasts feel like normally so you can monitor any changes, says Rexrode.
Additionally, having the BRCA genes are associated with a high risk of developing ovarian and breast cancer, so you should have a conversation with your doctor if you have a known family history of the gene, are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, or you've been diagnosed with breast, ovarian or tubal cancer in the past and have completed treatment.
Colorectal cancer
90% of colorectal cases are diagnosed after the age of 50 so colorectal screenings beginning at 45 are key to catch early signs of colorectal cancer like excessive polyps.
Currently, the American Cancer Society recommends men and women get colonoscopies every 10 years starting at age 45, or more frequently if you have a genetic predisposition/family history of colorectal cancer.
If there's a family history of colorectal cancer, you should have a conversation with your doctor about how often and how early you need to be screened.
A screening for colorectal cancer will involve a colonoscopy or a blood fecal test among other tests.
Skin cancer
About one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.
Rexrode says you should regularly keep tabs on any moles and birthmarks you may have to ensure they haven't grown, changed shape, or turned a different color.
How to deal with anxiety about cancer screenings
Cancer screenings prevent tens of thousands of deaths a year, and catching it early is crucial to treating it. But that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone gets screened when they should.
"I've certainly seen patients who developed an abnormal symptom like blood in their stool. They're worried, but they're afraid of confronting it and they kept putting it off, and often it's not until a family member or someone else close to them says, 'You have to go in and get checked out.' So, fear, I think, is a big barrier," says Rexrode.
What's the cost: Most insurance, including medicaid, often covers at least one yearly preventative doctor's appointment.
Beyond prioritizing screenings, you should pay close attention to how you're feeling and see a doctor if you notice any unusual symptoms, like unexplained weight loss, blood in your stool, abnormal vaginal bleeding, or an unusual breast lump, among other symptoms.
Insider's Takeaway
Women aged 21-50 should get these annual screenings:
- Cervical cancer screenings starting at ages 21-65, including a pap smear every 3 years
- Breast cancer screenings starting at 45, or earlier depending on genetic risk factors
- Colorectal screenings should be done for all people 45 and above
While screenings do a lot to catch cancer early, it's equally important to lead a healthy lifestyle so that you can prevent cancer from developing in the first place.
Steps to prevent cancer:
- Avoid alcohol
- Don't or stop smoking
- Eat a balanced diet
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Wear SPF 30
"I'm a big believer in the idea that we can face anything if we know what we're facing, and it's better to know, than just be scared. So, talk with your doctor and make a commitment to getting your cancer screenings " says Rexrode.
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