Early detection of lung cancer increases your odds of successful treatment and celebrating more birthdays. But a lung cancer screening comes with a few risks, too. So, should you get checked?The American Cancer Society, American Lung Association and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) say yes if you meet certain criteria tied to long-time cigarette use.Lets take a closer look at your options with pulmonologist Peter Mazzone, MD, MPH.Who should get a lung cancer screening?A lung cancer screening isnt for everyone, states Dr. Mazzone. Its recommended only for adults who are at high risk for the disease which explains why screening guidelines are pretty specific.The USPSTF suggests an annual lung cancer screening if all of the following apply:  Youre between age 50 and 80.Youve smoked at least 20 pack-years of cigarettes. (To calculate pack-years, multiply the average number of packs smoked per day by the number of years you smoked. So, 20 pack-years is one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years).You currently smoke or have quit smoking within the past 15 years.Its also important that youre healthy enough to benefit from finding and treating early-stage lung cancer. People who get tested dont typically have symptoms of lung cancer.If someone comes to us in a wheelchair already wearing oxygen and couldnt tolerate treatment, they typically arent eligible for screening, clarifies Dr. Mazzone. However, there are nearly 15 million Americans who are at high risk and should receive screening.It should be noted, too, that a lung cancer screening is a quick and painless imaging exam. It uses low-dose computed tomography, or low-dose CT, to capture very detailed pictures of your lungs.Why is lung cancer screening important?As noted, lung cancer often doesnt announce itself with early symptoms. So, without an annual screening, lung cancer is often detected once the disease has progressed and spread which makes successful treatment less likely.People with lung cancer have about an 80% chance of being alive five years later if the cancer is diagnosed and treatment begins during Stage 1. The five-year survival rate is about 4% if tumors have spread.That leads us to this alarming reality: Only about 1 in 4 people with lung cancer are diagnosed before the cancer spreads. Early detection is key to changing that, says Dr. Mazzone.Are lung cancer screenings perfect? Of course not. Scans sometimes detect small spots called nodules that look concerning but are basically harmless little scars. Radiation exposure is a concern, too. Ditto for overdiagnosis of conditions and additional testing and stress.But the benefits of lung cancer screening still outweigh any potential harm for many people, notes Dr. Mazzone.How often is lung cancer found during a screening?Lung cancer is found in about 1 in every 140 people who get screened. This may sound like a small number, but its about the same or better than the results for breast cancer and colon cancer screening.How to decide whether to get a lung screening?A counseling session is often required before a lung cancer screening so you can discuss lung cancer risks, the screening process, benefits and potential harm. It can be a complex and difficult decision for people to make.Many people value the potential benefit of screening so much theyre happy to accept them, explains Dr. Mazzone. Others may have a different perspective. Talk to your doctor to help decide whats best for you.And because the test is annual, the decision on whether to do it can be revisited every year.This article was written by Lungs, Breathing and Allergy Team from Cleveland Clinic and was legally licensed through the DiveMarketplace by Industry Dive.Contact Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama for your medicare and health insurance needs. Contact them at 251-344-2115

Working adults and retirees may be far removed from school and the stresses that come with high-stakes testing.No matter our age, though, were not done taking tests. Unlike the pop quiz in English literature, algebra or world history, the tests we take as older adults are some of the most important exams in our lives.Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers and the second-most common cause of cancer death in the U.S. and  worldwide. The American Cancer Society estimates that two-thirds of colorectal cancer deaths occur in patients over 65. However, if caught early, cancer of the colon is highly treatable and often curable.In 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force lowered the recommended testing age for colorectal cancer from 50 to 45 due to an increase in its incidence among younger individuals. Gen Xers, Baby Boomers and older generations who are up to date on their testing likely have already completed a colonoscopy, the gold standard of testing for this dangerous cancer. This screening test is highly important because colorectal cancer often doesnt have symptoms in the initial stages.The screening uses a scope to look for polyps, a small clump of cells that forms on the lining of the colon. Most colon polyps are harmless, but some can become cancerous. When cancer forms in a polyp, it grows into the wall of the colon and eventually can spread to distant parts of the body. During a colonoscopy, the doctor can remove colorectal polyps to help prevent cancer.While the test itself is done under general anesthesia, the preparation for a colonoscopy is often what people dislike. To make sure doctors can see polyps, the colon must be clean and empty before the procedure. That means everything in your bowel must go, which is accomplished by drinking large volumes of water mixed with a laxative the day before, and sometimes the morning before, the procedure. The liquid results in diarrhea and considerable time in the bathroom as your colon is cleared. You will also be on a clear-liquid diet the day of the procedure.The preparation can be unpleasant. Perhaps that is why four in 10 Americans aged 45 and older are not up to date on their colorectal cancer screenings, according to the American Cancer Society.But there is good news. People who dont have other risk factors generally only need to have a colonoscopy every 10 years. Also, a lot has changed in recent years. Today, the preparation liquid (often a gallon) does not need to be consumed in one sitting and may be taken the night before and the next morning, making it more tolerable. The solutions are also better-tasting than they once were.Also, there are some alternatives, including lower-volume solutions and a pill prep involving 12 tablets taken twice with large amounts of water. In addition, the FDA has approved three types of stool tests to screen for colorectal cancer at home. They should be completed every one to three years. If a stool test is positive, which doesnt always mean cancer is present, a follow up colonoscopy is necessary.   There are things we can do to prepare for a colonoscopy to make the preparation less unpleasant:         The less you have in your stomach before colonoscopy preparation, the easier it will be. Start eating smaller portions and reducing fiber five to seven days in advance.         The week before a colonoscopy, avoid nuts and seeds, popcorn, red meat, raw vegetables, corn, peas, broccoli, cabbage, dried beans, whole grain bread and pasta, brown or wild rice, fruit with skins, fried foods and cereals like oatmeal, shredded wheat and granola.          Chill any liquid preparation, as it is often easier to drink when its cold.         Use a straw to bypass the tastebuds in your mouth as you drink the preparation.         Suck on lemon slices or sugar-free menthol candy while you drink or after each sip to help with the taste.         Mix in sugar-free water flavorings that are clear, not red, blue or purple.         If nausea was an issue during a previous preparation, ask your doctor for anti-nausea medicine in advance. While age is a risk factor for developing colorectal cancer, increasing physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking and limiting alcohol can reduce the risk of developing colorectal and other cancers. Even if you were inactive in your younger years, becoming active when you are older can lower your risk.Your primary care doctor can help you keep track of preventive services, like screening tests and vaccines, as well as help make lifestyle recommendations such as diet and exercise to help reduce risk for illness.About the AuthorJaimenee Jaime Khemraj is chief medical officer for Healthcare Network, which has practices throughout Collier County offering family care, dental care and pharmacy as well as behavioral health counseling. For more information, visit HealthcareSWFL.org, or to schedule an appointment, please call 239-658-3000. 

Knowledge Is the Best Defense Against Breast CancerBreast cancer is an unsettling topic for any woman. Besides the dread it induces, cancer also perplexes and frustrates with its unpredictability. Some general risk factors for any persons chance of having breast cancer have been established, but more is unknown than known about the specific causes and how or if they can be predicted in any given person. In fact, 60-70% of women with breast cancer have none of the risk factors in their backgrounds, while others with these specific risk factors never develop cancer. This puts the pressure on early detection and being always vigilant, that is, regular screening by your doctor, self-examination and being educated about early symptoms. In a word, knowing. October is an entire month dedicated to knowing more about breast cancer. Breast Cancer Awareness Month brings a special focus to a disease projected to affect 276,480 women and to cause 42,170 deaths this year. The topic of breast cancer among senior women gets less conversation than it should. This month would be an opportunity to change that. The Particular Problem of Age and CancerSo many of the dramatizations of breast cancer in the media and advertising feature women under 50 or 60 that you could get the impression that it is primarily a younger womans disease. But the Breast Cancer Research Foundation actually terms breast cancer a disease of aging. The Foundation reports that the median age for breast cancer is 62 and that around a quarter of women who develop the cancer are between 75-84. The population overall continues to age, and the result for breast cancer will be a doubling of cases by 2030, with most of the affected between the ages of 70 and 84. Understanding breast cancer in older women may require a radical change in perception, then. Why the seeming bias? Many circumstances contribute. For one thing, older adults are most often excluded from clinical trials. Inevitably, the research reports for a younger population. This also creates a knowledge gap in the medical professions. The lack of geriatric oncologists, those physicians who specialize in cancer among the aging, further limits the understanding and clear pathways to treatment.   Of the many types, the predominant breast cancer is generally in the category of invasive or infiltrating breast cancer, accounting for 70-80% of all cases. This type invades the milk ducts of the surrounding breast tissue and spreads. The treatment depends on the protein structure of the cancer cells, and will probably require a biopsy to determine the cell makeup. Far too many variables to describe here apply. The point is that only your doctor and specialist can make diagnoses and should be consulted early and regularly for examinations. Self-diagnosing, as with all disease, is particularly untrustworthy, but self-examination is recommended and useful. Lifestyle and Environment Risk FactorsLegend Senior Living puts the health care of seniors first. While the term health care may conjure all things clinical, the practice of health and wellness at every Legend residence is part of the purposeful design of the residence itself. This includes the physical environment, the activities comprising our Life Enrichment programming, the concentration on proper nutrition and options for exercise, no matter the residents mobility limitations. All of these factors are extremely important to reducing risks of disease and physical injury generally, and cancer in particular. The National Breast Cancer Foundation lists a few of the major factors that you can modify to influence your own health. At Legend communities, our Legend Experts in Senior Living, our staff of associates, are well-trained in assisting residents with lifestyle modification that can reduce your risk of breast cancer. Exercise and ActivityA lack of physical activity directly relates to your risk for breast cancer. Increasing activity reduces your risk. This activity can take many forms, and well-designed senior living residences offer dozens of combinations. A few minutes a day in a fully equipped exercise room, especially with the coaching of an Associate, can be fun, rewarding, and not too physically demanding. Group exercise, aerobics, water aerobics, games and sports also abound. Eating WellDiet is especially important in reducing breast cancer risk. Older adults tend to have diets higher in saturated fat, because eating habits were long established before we knew as much as we do now about the effect of fat intake on health. Too, if a senior is unable to grocery shop as frequently as theyd like, their diet may lack fruits and vegetables essential to prevent diet-related health issues, cancer in particular. Residents at a well-staffed senior living residence should have the option for three chef-prepared meals every day, all designed under the supervision of a licensed nutritionist. Eating and Drinking HabitsBeing overweight or obese can increase your risk for breast cancer, especially post-menopause. So does overconsumption of alcohol. Both of these factors can be greatly influenced by lifestyle. The more active you are, with better control of your diet, the easier it is to control your weight and lessen the need for medication (alcohol being a common type of self-medication for depression and loneliness). Other FactorsOlder women should also be aware of the effects of having had radiation therapy to the chest before the age of 30, as well as having taken hormone replacement therapy for menopause. Both factors can increase the risks of breast cancer. Consulting your physician is the best practice in these cases. What Doesnt Cause Breast CancerBeing well-informed and knowledgeable about breast cancer can keep a lot of stress out of your life. It will also keep you from pursuing procedures and remedies that are ineffective, unnecessary or radical. The following are all cited as Myths About Breast Cancer by the National Breast Cancer Foundation: Finding a lump in your breast does not mean automatically mean you have breast cancerA mammogram will not cause breast cancer to spreadHaving a family history of breast cancer does not mean you are likely to develop breast cancer, tooBreast cancer is not contagiousShowing the gene mutation BRCA1 or BRCA2 in your DNA does not mean you will definitely develop breast cancerAntiperspirants and deodorants do not cause breast cancer Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October is the perfect occasion to learn, but let it be just a start to year-round awareness and vigilance, especially for older adults. Regular visits to your physician cant be replaced by any amount of education, so dont skip your checkups!