Don’t Leave Your Health Up To Luck

It’s easy to put off routine health screenings—but do you really want to roll the dice with your health?

Schedule your appointments now with a UR Medicine provider to take control of your well-being. Specialists can book up quickly, so it’s especially important to plan ahead.

Here are seven of some of the most common health screenings that should be on your radar.

1. Regular primary care visits

Just like kids, adults should ideally visit their primary care doctor annually. Annual routine check-ups are critical as your provider will suggest cancer screenings and other tests based on your health history.

2. Colonoscopies

In general, men and women should begin colon cancer screening at age 45. However, if you have an immediate family member—such as a parent or sibling—who has been diagnosed with colon cancer, you may need to get screened before age 45.

3. Breast exams

Women should perform self-breast exams monthly to look for changes. An annual breast exam done by a doctor is also important for breast cancer screening. These will be performed at routine visits with your OBGYN provider.

4. Mammograms

Generally recommended for women ages 40 and older, mammograms play a crucial role in early detection of breast cancer by identifying abnormalities in breast tissue, including small lumps that may not be felt during a physical exam.

5. Cervical cancer screening

Patients with a cervix should start cervical cancer screening at age 21. Depending on age, health, and family history, cervical cancer screening may include a Pap test and/or a High Risk (HR) HPV test. These will be performed at routine visits with your OBGYN provider.

6. Prostate cancer screening

Men ages 50 and older—or 45 and older if there is a family history of prostate cancer—should be screened regularly. Since most cancers arise in the outer portion of the gland, an abnormality often may be felt by your provider on a digital rectal exam (DRE).

7. Routine skin checks

If you have many moles and freckles, or have a family history or personal history of skin cancer, consider getting a skin check regularly with a dermatologist.

There are many health screenings available, and your primary care provider may have different suggestions based on your personal health. If you have a family history of cancer, you may need screenings more regularly or earlier in life. Wilmot Cancer Institute’s Hereditary Cancer Screening and Risk Reduction Program can help you create a personalized cancer screening plan based on your genetics.