All articles tagged with #screening
Doctors identify rectal bleeding as the number-one early sign of colon cancer and urge medical evaluation, since early detection greatly improves survival; other potential symptoms include weight loss, abdominal pain, and persistent changes in bowel habits, with regular screening advised.
Dr Mark Porter warns that bowel cancer is increasingly diagnosed in younger people, urging awareness of warning signs (persistent changes in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, anemia, weight loss) and prompt GP consultation, while stressing the importance of taking up bowel screening (FIT tests and colonoscopy) which can dramatically improve survival; UK invites typically 50–74 every two years, with continued testing options after 74 in some regions.
An oncologist aged 50+ urges people over 50 to routinely screen for skin cancer, stressing that it’s the most common cancer and is highly treatable when detected early. Screenings combine self-exams and professional skin checks, with risk assessments (such as the American Cancer Society’s CancerRisk360) guiding personalized screening plans. He also emphasizes not skipping other essential screenings for those 50+, including colorectal cancer (colonoscopy every 10 years starting at 45 or earlier for higher risk) and lung cancer (annual low‑dose CT for high‑risk individuals), underscoring the importance of following up on any concerning findings.
Colorectal cancer is rising among people under 50, with lifestyle factors and gut microbiome imbalances suggested as contributors. Symptoms to watch for include blood in the stool, abdominal pain, and changes in bowel habits. Screening for average risk typically starts at age 45, with colonoscopy recommended for high-risk individuals, and early detection greatly improves survival. Lifestyle changes—regular exercise, a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and fiber, maintaining a healthy weight, and limiting alcohol and avoiding tobacco—along with discussing personal and family history with a healthcare provider can help lower risk.
TRICARE explains which breast cancer screenings are covered and how often, including mammograms (typically annually for certain ages or risk factors), breast MRI for high-risk individuals, genetic counseling/testing, and clinical breast exams, and it clarifies the difference between screening and diagnostic tests under preventive care rules.
A Washington Post opinion by Leana S. Wen argues that decades of breast cancer screening centered on annual mammograms may be suboptimal, highlighting new research that suggests non-mammogram tests or risk‑based approaches could reduce the reliance on mammograms while maintaining early detection.
A BMJ study of over 3,000 women suggests HPV testing using menstrual blood collected on mini-pads could nearly match clinician-taken samples in detecting cervical cancer and offers a more convenient at‑home option, potentially improving access and privacy. However, it is not yet ready to replace standard screening, being applicable only to those who menstruate, and requires further validation in diverse groups and with biopsy-confirmed outcomes.
Anne Campbell, who endured fatigue and pain since childhood, learns at age 83 that hereditary haemochromatosis—a genetic iron-overload disease linked to her Hebridean ancestry—caused her health problems; a Nature study shows higher risk among Western Isles and north-west Ireland populations, fueling calls for community-wide screening, with treatment simply involving regular blood removal to prevent organ damage.
A long-term study of 5,112 people followed for about 34 years found that men’s risk of cardiovascular disease starts rising in their mid-30s—earlier than women—with coronary heart disease driving most of the difference. After accounting for blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, smoking, activity, and weight, the gap narrows but persists. Men reach a 5% CVD incidence around 50.5 years vs 57.5 for women, and CHD reaches 2% roughly a decade earlier for men. Stroke risk shows little difference, while heart failure differences emerge later. Experts call for earlier heart health screening and preventive care for men.
A JAMA study analyzing nearly 1.3 million deaths under age 50 from National Cancer Institute data finds colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in Americans under 50, with colorectal deaths rising about 1% per year since 1990 while overall under-50 cancer mortality fell about 44% by 2023; experts urge earlier screening for ages 45–49 (only 37% up-to-date) and call for more research to identify drivers behind the rise.
A Swedish Lancet study of over 100,000 women found AI-assisted reading of mammograms increased cancer detection and reduced interval cancers by 12%, suggesting fewer aggressive cancers later and potential health-cost savings; the AI acted as a triage aid (low-risk cases read by one radiologist, high-risk by two). Limitations include single-center data and missing race/ethnicity info, with longer-term mortality and cost-effectiveness to be assessed.
A Swedish randomized trial of 100,000 women found AI-assisted mammography reduced subsequent cancer diagnoses by 12% and increased cancers detected at screening (81% vs 74%), with 27% fewer aggressive subtypes. The study suggests AI can augment radiologists and improve early detection, but researchers caution it should augment rather than replace clinicians and call for broader validation across regions. The Lancet published the findings.
A long-term CARDIA study shows men reach a 5% cardiovascular disease risk around age 50.5—about seven years earlier than women (57.5)—driven largely by coronary heart disease; traditional risk factors explain only part of the gap, suggesting other biological or social factors. The findings imply heart screening and prevention may need to start earlier in adulthood, especially for men.
A American Cancer Society analysis shows cancer deaths in people under 50 declined 44% from 1990 to 2023, driven by big drops in cancers like lung cancer, but colorectal cancer deaths rose among younger adults and, in 2023, colorectal cancer was the leading cause of cancer death in that age group. Alabama data mirrors the national trend with a small drop in overall under‑50 cancer mortality from 2018–2022 but a rise in colorectal cancer deaths; researchers emphasize awareness and increased screening to catch colorectal cancer earlier, especially since many cases are diagnosed at advanced stages.
A long-running CARDIA study tracking more than 5,100 adults from young adulthood to 2020 finds men’s cardiovascular disease risk begins to diverge from women around age 35, with coronary heart disease developing earlier in men and the gap persisting despite similar traditional risk factors. The study suggests starting prevention and screening earlier in adulthood, potentially using tools like the AHA PREVENT equations that begin at age 30, while noting preventive care uptake remains lower for men aged 18–44.