Benefits of Early Screening
Finding breast cancer early is one of the most effective ways to reduce deaths from the disease. When detected early, breast cancer is easier to treat successfully with the 5-year survival rate for stage 1 breast cancer at 99% vs stage 4 at 31%. Regular mammograms are the most reliable method for early detection.
Risk Factors
- Female sex at birth
- Older age
- Inherited genetic mutations, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2
- Menstrual periods beginning before age 12 or menopause occurring after age 55
- Dense breast tissue
- A family history of breast or ovarian cancer
- Radiation therapy to the chest or breasts before age 30
Recommendations
Always check with your doctor, the recommendations below are general and individual patients may have unique needs.
- Age: 40
- Test: Mammogram
- Frequency: Annual
Take Action
Promotion
- Promote breast cancer awareness campaigns on screening guidelines.
- Share resources for uninsured patients.
- Promote mobile unit locations.
- Recommend preventative cancer screenings at each clinic visit.
- Encourage and support implementation of evidence-based. interventions to increase screening.
- Increase the use of client reminders for breast cancer screening.
Partner
- Work with mobile mammography units to bring services to clinics.
- Engage community health workers to promote breast cancer screening.
Policy
- Advocate for insurance coverage for diagnostic services.
- Advocate for insurance coverage for mobile mammograms in rural areas.
- Convene a breast cancer care workgroup to improve breast cancer screening rates.
References
(1) Public Health Indicator Based Information System (IBIS)
(2) CDC.gov
(3) American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
(4) Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Women’s Preventive Services Guidelines
How Does Screening Affect Cervical Cancer Mortality?
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and curable cancers if detected early through routine screening.
Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by infection of high-risk types of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Women who have had an HPV vaccine still need to have routine cervical cancer screening because the vaccine does not fully protect against all the strains of the virus and other risk factors that can cause cervical cancer.
Risk Factors
- Female sex at birth
- Older age
- Inherited genetic mutations, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2
- Menstrual periods beginning before age 12 or menopause occurring after age 55
- Dense breast tissue
- A family history of breast or ovarian cancer
- Radiation therapy to the chest or breasts before age 30
Recommendations
Always check with your doctor, the recommendations below are general and individual patients may have unique needs.
- Age: 40
- Test: Mammogram
- Frequency: Annual
Take Action
Promote
- Promote breast cancer awareness campaigns on screening guidelines.
- Share resources for uninsured patients.
- Promote mobile unit locations.
- Recommend preventative cancer screenings at each clinic visit.
- Encourage and support implementation of evidence-based. interventions to increase screening.
- Increase the use of client reminders for breast cancer screening.
Partner
- Work with mobile mammography units to bring services to clinics.
- Engage community health workers to promote breast cancer screening.
Policy
- Advocate for insurance coverage for diagnostic services.
- Advocate for insurance coverage for mobile mammograms in rural areas.
- Convene a breast cancer care workgroup to improve breast cancer screening rates.
References
(1) Public Health Indicator Based Information System (IBIS)
(2) CDC.gov
(3) American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
(4) Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Women’s Preventive Services Guidelines
How Does Screening Affect Colorectal Cancer Mortality?
Early detection of colorectal cancer saves lives. It is referred to as a “silent killer” due to lack of symptoms and is often not diagnosed until it has progressed to a later stage, when it is harder to treat. It is recommended that colorectal cancer screening begins at age 45.
Risk Factors
- Higher body weight
- Diabetes mellitus, Type 2
- Smoking
- Poor diet
- Alcohol
- Age over 50 years
- American Indian, Alaska Native, African American, and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage
- Male at birth
- Family history of colorectal cancer
- History of radiation to the abdomen or pelvis area
- Having an inherited syndrome (3)
Recommendations
Always check with your doctor, the recommendations below are general and individual patients may have unique needs.
- Age: 45-74
- Test: Stool test
- Frequency: 1-3 years
- Age: 45-74
- Test: Colonoscopy
- Frequency: 10 years
Take Action
Promote
- Education about colorectal test options and insurance coverage, making sure people are aware of testing options.
- Encourage stool-based CRC tests as frontline screening tool for average risk individuals, shared decision making.
Partner
- Engage community health workers to promote colorectal cancer screening.
- Partner with health systems to address colonoscopy services in rural areas.
- Partner with health systems to increase the use of client reminders for colorectal cancer screening.
- Reduce structural barriers to screening by simplifying patient access to screening by offering “one-stop shopping” such as FLU-FIT clinics (giving Fecal Immunochemical Test at a flu shot clinic).
- Encourage shared decision making between patient and provider.
Policy
Prohibit cost sharing on screening.
Increase access to free colonoscopy and follow up for un/underinsured patients.
Provide insurance coverage for colonoscopy access at a younger age for those with family history of colon cancer.
Funding for follow up care for positive test results in addition to existing low-income screening.
References
(1) Public Health Indicator Based Information System (IBIS)
(2) HP 2030
(3) ACS
(4) Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening in Rural Communities
How Does Screening Affect Lung Cancer Mortality?
Lung cancer screening, specifically with low-dose computed tomography, significantly reduces lung cancer mortality by 20% to 24% in high-risk individuals, according to major trials like the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) and NELSON. Early detection allows for earlier treatment, decreasing late-stage diagnoses and improving survival. (1)
Risk Factors
- Smoking
- Secondhand smoke
- Exposure to Radon
- Exposure to asbestos
- Exposure in the workplace (3)
- Living somewhere with high air pollution
Recommendations
Always check with your doctor, the recommendations below are general and individual patients may have unique needs.
- Age: 50-80 years
- Test: Low-dose CT scan
- Smoking history: 20 or more pack years
- (this means 1 pack a day for 20 years, 2 packs a day for 10 years, etc.)
- Smoking Status: Currently smoke or quit within the last 15 years
- Frequency: Annual
Take Action
Promote
- Increasing awareness of lung cancer screenings for eligible patients and general public.
- Partner with Utah Tobacco Prevention and Control Program and Tobacco Free Alliance to increase awareness of lung cancer screenings for survivor caregivers, providers, and the general public to promote education and shared decision making.
Partner
- Provider education about lung cancer screening and shared decision making.
- Increase awareness of lung cancer screening and eligibility with primary care providers including knowledge of lung cancer screening programs in Utah.
Policy
- Work with USPSTF to have lung cancer screening covered for individuals with radon exposure, occupational exposure, etc. regardless of smoking history.
- Have Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services adopt the new screening standards which include those with radon and occupational exposure.
- Expand insurance coverage for lung cancer screening for firefighters.
- Explore legislation to have secondhand smokers included to receive lung cancer screening.
References
(1) Lung Cancer Screening (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version
(2) USPSTF
How Does Screening Affect Prostate Cancer?
It is recommended that men have a chance to make an informed decision with their provider about whether to be screened for prostate cancer. Men should learn about the possible benefits and harms of screening, diagnosis and treatment.
Risk Factors
- African American men and in Caribbean men of African ancestry
- Family history
- Inherited gene changes
- Age, with most men being diagnosed over age 65
Recommendations
Always check with your doctor, the recommendations below are general and individual patients may have unique needs.
- Age: 55-69
- Test: Discuss screening options with provider.
- Frequency: Discuss screening frequency with provider.
Take Action
Promote
- Best practices around prostate screening.
- Increase awareness for high risk groups.
- Increase awareness of prostate cancer rates in Utah with providers and the general public.
- Share information about types of testing available.
Partner
- Encourage providers to make shared decisions with patients.
- Partner with community-based organizations working with high risk communities to increase screening rates.
Policy
- Ensure insurance coverage for test options.
- Provide free screening for high risk individuals
References
(1) USPSTF
(2) HP 2030