Special (health) Screening

You are invited to a special (health) screening…

Summer is a great time to hit the local multiplex and catch a screening of the newest romantic comedy, thriller or action movie. But summer is also the perfect time to schedule a different type of screening—in which you play a starring role.

SKIN CANCER

“Wrinkles, lines and spots are proof that your skin ‘remembers’ damage from years ago,” says Patricia Cavender, M.D., HMF’s dermatologist. That means the summers you spent tanning as a teenager can come back to haunt you in the form of skin cancer.

Malignant melanoma, the most severe form of skin cancer, is on the rise. Since 1978, the incidence of this disease has nearly tripled. Today, one in 68 Americans are at risk for developing melanoma in their lifetime. Treatable when caught early, melanoma can be fatal if ignored.

The more common basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are both curable if caught early.

Your first line of defense is regular self-examinations. Look for changes in your skin and contact your doctor immediately if a mole has changed size, shape, texture or color.

The possibility of developing skin cancer is greater if you have these risk factors:

blond or red hair
blue or green eyes
freckles
skin that sunburns easily
previous sunburns
family history of skin cancer
personal history of skin cancer

Your HMF doctor can determine your level of risk and establish the proper screening program for you.

COLORECTAL CANCER

The death of journalist Katie Couric’s husband and the treatment of rocker Ozzy Osboure’s wife has increased public awareness of the value of screenings—and not a moment too soon.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Benign tumors, called polyps, spend many years growing and appear most often after the age of 50. One in 20 polyps can become cancerous, so removing the polyps prevents the disease.

“ Early on, colorectal cancer often does not produce symptoms. The average person does not realize anything is wrong until the cancer is in its later stages—and harder to treat,“ says HMF gastroenterologist David Cantor, M.D. “Screening can save your life.”

HMF uses colonoscopy, the screening method most recommended by the medical community. You’ll fast beforehand and undergo light sedation to keep you comfortable during the procedure. Your doctor will use a slim, lighted tube to view the rectum and entire colon and to remove polyps.

“Colonoscopy is a very efficient process. If we find any abnormal growths, we remove them on the spot and get them to the lab for analysis,” says Dr. Cantor.

Your first screening should occur at age 50, or earlier if you have:

a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps
personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps
personal history of chronic inflammatory disorders of the colon

BREAST CANCER

You’ve seen the pink ribbons, heard about the walk-a-thons, but have you had a mammogram? Ever done a breast self-examination?

Once again, screening is the best method of early detection. Many women are confused over seemingly conflicting opinions from the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute.

“Medicine does not stand still,” says Jan Brink, M.D., “New research and new technology means we are constantly refining our approach to diagnosis and treatment.”

That explains why the American Cancer Society recommends an annual mammogram for women over 40 while the National Cancer Institute suggests every other year is enough. What is right? Ask your doctor! He or she can determine what combination of self-exams, clinical exams and mammograms is appropriate for you.

CERVICAL CANCER

According to the American Cancer Society, women should start cervical cancer screenings soon after she starts having vaginal intercourse but no later than age 21.

In the course of a regular pelvic exam, the doctor brushes the cervix with a special instrument to collect cells for scrutiny under a microscope. The Pap smear is a reliable way to detect cancer or pre-cancerous conditions. Some 13,000 women will develop invasive cervical cancer this year; approximately 31% of them will die.

Doctors advise most women to get an annual Pap smear and others to take the test every two to three years depending on their risk factors. At age 70, you can stop having Pap tests if your last three were normal.

OSTEOPOROSIS

Bones naturally lose mass as we age. Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become weak enough to break, often at the hip, back or wrist. Loss of height and curvature of the upper back are other signs of the disease.

According to HMF endocrinologist Cary Manoogian, M.D., recent medical advances has made osteoporosis easier to manage and sometimes reverse.

“Certain classes of medications prevent bone breakdown and arrest further bone loss. Newer agents actually allow bone formation, thereby increasing bone mass,“ he says. “The first step is getting a scan to determine how much bone you have remaining.”

Women should start having the test at menopause, or sooner if they have a certain combination of these risk factors:

a previous bone fracture
a small, thin frame
a family history of osteoporosis
a low calcium diet
lack of exercise
thyroid or parathyroid disorders
eating disorders
certain medicines (such as steroids and anticonvulsants)
high caffeine intake
alcohol and tobacco use

For many years, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) helped protect menopausal women from osteoporosis. Now that HRT has been linked to breast cancer, the risk may outweigh the benefit.

Men are not immune to osteoporosis either, especially if they have taken steroids, undergone chemotherapy or have diminished testosterone production.

Depending on your results, your doctor may suggest exercise, changes in diet or medicines. The 10-minute test is administered at HMF’s own Bone Density Testing Center in Pasadena.

A SMART INVESTMENT

Prevention and early detection are two of the best ways to stay healthy, so the time and energy you invest in undergoing a health screening is well worth it.

Ask your HMF doctor to create or update a screening program based on your age, risk factors and medical history.