Screening and preventative medicine
Screening tests allow health problems or cancer to be identified at an early stage to improve the patient’s health. In the table below you will find the major recommended screening tests. Talk to your doctor about them.
WOMEN |
|
Test |
Age |
Cholesterol every 1 to 3 years* | 50 years old |
Diabetes every 3 years* | 40 years old |
Mammogram every 1 to 2 years** | 50 years old |
Colon cancer screening every 2 to 5 years** | 50 years old |
Pap Test every 1-3 years *** | 21 years old and sexually active |
Osteoporosis every 1-3 years**** | 65 years old |
MEN |
|
Test |
Age |
Cholesterol every 1 to 3 years* | 40 years old |
Diabetes every 3 years* | 40 years old |
Prostate exam | Only with at risk men |
Colon cancer screening every 2 to 5 years** | 50 years old |
Osteoporosis every 1-3 years**** | 65 years old |
* screening age may be lower if you have risk factors such as family history, abdominal obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, a known heart disease, etc.
** screening age may be lower if you have a family history.
*** unless your doctor advises you otherwise.
**** screening age may be lower if you have a family history, are a smoker, suffer from rhumatoid arthritis or have a history of hypothyroidism, if you have a small stature, or if you consume a large amount of caffeine or alcohol.
Fill out a short questionnaire and assess your risks from a preventative medicine perspective. Visit My Cancer IQ.
Recommended immunizations
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Pneumonia vaccine (pneumococcus): over the age of 65, or if you have risk factors such as diabetes or a heart, lung or kidney disease.
-
Influenza (flu) vaccine: annually
-
Tetanus and diphtheria vaccine (Td): every 10 years