All articles tagged with #preventive screening
Dr. Roach discusses the risks and benefits of repeat colonoscopies for a 78-year-old man with a history of adenoma, suggesting that most healthy 82-year-olds with such history should consider another screening, as the benefits outweigh the risks, and also explains when to worry about a fever and how body temperature varies among individuals.
Perimenopause, the transitional phase before menopause, is a critical period for women as it increases susceptibility to various health issues including cancer; awareness, early screenings, and lifestyle changes are essential for prevention and better health outcomes.
Full-body MRIs are promoted for early detection of cancer and other health issues, with some success stories like early lung cancer detection, but they remain controversial due to lack of conclusive evidence on life-saving benefits and concerns about overdiagnosis and cost. Medical experts suggest considering personal risk factors, family history, and budget before opting for such scans, and emphasize that they should complement, not replace, standard screenings.
New blood tests are becoming increasingly important in the early detection of cancer and Alzheimer's disease. One test released last year can detect early signals for over 50 types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer, for which no routine preventive screening assays have existed up to this point. Other blood tests are proving accurate in detecting amyloid plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, even before cognitive declines have been experienced. It is unclear who should be getting these tests and what patients should do about positive results.