National Cancer Prevention Month: Why Early Detection Is Key

February is National Cancer Prevention Month and the perfect opportunity for seniors to educate themselves on the many health benefits of early detection. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be more than two million new cancer cases and 611,720 cancer-related deaths this year. To protect themselves, older adults must get screened early and often.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about early cancer detection.

What Is Early Detection?

Early cancer detection, or early diagnosis, is the process of identifying symptomatic patients as early as possible. This gives them the best chance of overcoming the disease and responding successfully to treatments.

Without early diagnosis, patients will have a lower chance of survival, higher healthcare costs, and an increased risk of not responding well to treatment.

Benefits of Early Diagnosis

In most instances, early-stage cancers—or cancer that hasn’t spread or isn’t extremely large—can be efficiently treated with hyper-targeted approaches and less invasive treatments. Additional benefits of early cancer detection include:

Minimal disease progression: Screening tests help doctors uncover if a patient has early-stage cancer, often before any observable symptoms occur. Detecting precancerous cells, abnormalities, or other potential issues ensures patients receive prompt treatment, slowing the progression of the disease.
Increased chance of survival: With early cancer intervention, seniors have an increased chance of survival. If cancer is diagnosed when it is in advanced stages, successfully treating the disease becomes more challenging.
Better treatment options: Doctors can find cost-effective, less invasive ways to treat cancer if diagnosed in its early stages.

As you can see, early cancer detection boosts your chance of survival and ensures you receive the best treatment possible.

When Should I Get Screened?

The American Cancer Society recommends the following screenings for certain cancers:

Mammogram screening: At age 45, people should start getting mammograms every year until they are 55 or older.
Lung cancer screenings: These screenings should be scheduled annually for people ages 50 to 80 who are in fairly good health, have a 20-pack-per-year smoking history, and have quit smoking in the last 15 years.
Prostate cancer screening: High-risk people should ask their healthcare professional about prostate cancer screenings starting at age 45.

Can Early-Stage Cancer Go Undetected?

It's possible for some early-stage cancers to go undetected, even with screening. This can happen because:

People are afraid to speak with their doctors
Potential symptoms of early-stage cancer may not be obvious, such as aches, pains, and lethargy
Some diagnoses are incredibly complicated and involve multiple tests
Seniors might have difficulty scheduling an appointment or getting to their doctor

Could You Use a Hand at Home?

Visiting Angels of Eagle, CO, is dedicated to helping seniors throughout Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, Vail, Beaver Creek, Bachelor Gulch, Edwards, Avon, Frisco, Keystone, Breckenridge, and Summit, CO, stay healthy and safe as they age at home. While we only provide non-medical services, our compassionate in-home caregivers can drive you to doctor appointments, help prepare delicious and nutritious meals, and remind you to take your meds.