Health Screenings to Talk to Your Doctor About

Put yourself first this year and focus on your health. Take time to understand the health screening options that you may be eligible for. Always discuss your risk factors and health screenings with your doctor.

 

Heart Disease

Heart calcium scoring helps spot the early stages of heart disease while there is still time to stop it. Your heart's arteries contain calcium. Its amount and location tell your doctor if you're at risk for heart problems.

The screening procedure is a quick, painless CT scan of your heart.

 

Learn More and Schedule This Test

 

 

Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths. Colon cancer is treatable and beatable if found early. One in five colon cancer patients is 20–54 years old.

Know your risk factors:

• 45 and older
• Smoking
• Being overweight/obese
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Excessive alcohol intake
• High consumption of red or processed meat
• Personal or family histories of colon cancer or benign (non-cancerous) colon polyps
• Personal history of inflammatory bowel disease

Talk to your primary care doctor about your colon cancer risk. Ask about the best screening options for you. A doctor needs to provide a referral for a colonoscopy.

 

Breast Cancer

Regular mammograms are one of the best ways to detect breast cancer early. Breast cancer is most treatable when caught early. Women aged 40 and older at average risk should have a screening mammogram every year.

You may need to begin mammograms earlier than age 40 if you have:

• A family history of the disease.
• Dense breasts.
• Gene mutations in your family, which might increase your risk of the disease.

Talk to your provider about your risk of breast cancer and when you should get a mammogram.

 

Learn More and Schedule a Mammogram

 

 

Lung Cancer

People aged 50 or older, with a history of smoking, are at risk for lung cancer. This applies to those who smoked at least a pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years. According to the CDC, more people in the U.S. die from lung cancer than from any other cancer.

If lung cancer is diagnosed early, it’s associated with a nearly 8x higher five-year survival rate than if diagnosed at a late stage.

If you have a history of smoking or currently smoke, talk to your doctor. You may qualify for a lung cancer CT screening.

 

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. Men aged 50 and above are at higher risk for prostate cancer, whether there is a family history or not. In the early stages, there are usually no symptoms. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test can help find prostate issues or cancer. This test measures a protein made by the male prostate and helps find prostate problems or cancer.

Ask your primary care provider when and how often you should be screened for prostate cancer.

 

Stay Connected

Follow us on Facebook for upcoming screenings offered during health fairs at your local HSHS hospital.

If you don’t have a primary care physician, you can search our providers here or call (844) 520-8897 to speak with our Patient Advocate for assistance in finding the right provider for you.