Many people skipped or delayed routine cancer screening tests during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic. Medical providers say it’s now safe and prudent to schedule your appointments.
“If you put off your cancer screening or other screening procedures, we encourage you to reschedule them now,” says Dr. Anthony Addesa, Director of Oncology at The Medical Group of South Florida.
Since everyone’s medical situation is unique, experts recommend talking to your doctor or care team to discuss what’s best for you.
Routine screening tests include mammograms to detect breast cancer, Pap tests for abnormalities that could lead to cervical cancer, colonoscopies to find early signs of colorectal cancer, and imaging scans for lung cancer in people with a history of heavy smoking. Short-term delays in these tests aren’t a reason to panic, but long-term delays may have an effect on health outcomes.
Although the pandemic is not over, measures have been put in place in doctors’ offices, clinics, and hospitals to protect individuals while they are being screened. At The Medical Group of South Florida, these safeguards include:
- Masks to be worn by all patients and staff
- Physical distancing
- Intensified deep cleaning
- Hand sanitizer stations
- Marked places to stand in elevators
- Limits on the number of people in common areas
Mammography screening
Mammograms are an important part of health care for women, and although they were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, they can now be carried out at most facilities.
For most women, a one-time delay of six to 12 months in mammogram scheduling should be of no clinical consequence. However, women who have concerns about changes in their breast, or who are at high risk for developing breast cancer, should make a more concerted effort to return to routine screening sooner rather than later.
Factors that increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer include:
- Older age
- A family or personal history of the disease
- An inherited mutation in a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene
- Being overweight or obese
- Having a first child after age 30 or not having had a full-term pregnancy
- Dense breasts
Additionally, if you notice any suspicious changes in your breast(s), you should alert your doctors, who will order prompt evaluation.
Colonoscopies
Colonoscopies — which involve examination of the colon using an endoscopic device that enables physicians to detect tumors or pre-cancerous polyps — are recommended beginning between age 45-50 for men and women who are at average risk.
Routine colonoscopies were delayed in early 2020 by the coronavirus pandemic, but now the American Gastroenterological Association says that they can be resumed when there has been a sustained reduction in the rate of new COVID-19 cases in the relevant geographic area for at least 14 days.
Higher-risk patients would include people with a known predisposition to colorectal cancer, such as:
- People with Lynch syndrome
- Individuals with a history of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
- A family or personal history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps
Anyone with symptoms such as bleeding, a change in bowel habits, change in caliber of the stool, or bloating, should also speak immediately with a physician about getting a colonoscopy.
Pap tests
Pap tests, which collect cells at the opening of the cervix, are recommended for women beginning around age 21 and continuing until age 65. The test can reveal abnormalities indicating pre-cancerous or cancerous cervical lesions. Guidelines on frequency vary from every three to every five years.
Increased risk for cervical cancer is caused by:
- Infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Sexual activity beginning at a young age
- Smoking
- Chlamydia infection
- A family or personal history of cervical cancer.
Lung cancer screening
Lung cancer screening, which uses low-dose CT scans of the lungs, is aimed at detecting cancer at a very early stage when it’s more likely to be cured. It is recommended for older adults who are longtime smokers and who don’t have any signs or symptoms of lung cancer. The screening is generally offered to smokers and former smokers who are 55 and older, and who have smoked heavily for many years.
Cancer Screenings at MGSFL
At The Medical Group of South Florida, we encourage you to be proactive about your health and get screened. Our supportive staff will be there every step of the way to help you through the screening process and, if needed, in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
To learn more about cancer screening at The Medical Group of South Florida, contact us here or call 561.622.6111 for more information.