Make Cancer Screenings Routine April 4, 2025 Cancer deaths in the U.S. are at their lowest, having dropped by 33% since 1991. Education, prevention, screening tests, early detection and treatment advancements have all contributed to this improvement. Making healthy life choices and forming good habits, including routine cancer screenings, is critical, too. With breast, colorectal and lung cancer diagnoses expected to rise, the Samaritan Cancer Program and many community partners have adopted a gold standard approach for cancer screening tests. Breast Cancer There are many ways to test for breast cancer, such as mammograms, breast ultrasound or MRI. Mammograms continue to remain the gold standard approach for screening. Several respected medical organizations produce guidelines for when to have a screening mammogram. For women at average risk of developing breast cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends the following: 40 to 44 years, screening may begin and, if started, should continue annually thereafter. 45 years, screening every year. 55 years and up, switch to screening every two years or continue yearly as needed, according to your personal health needs. Screenings should continue if you are in good health and expect to live at least 10 more years. It is also important to know what is normal for your breasts. If you find something unusual or may be at higher risk, talk with your doctor. Colorectal Cancer A few years ago, the screening age for colorectal cancer lowered from 50 to 45. This was largely due to the rise in cancer-related deaths and the impact of screening. When colorectal cancer is caught early, the survival rate is 90%. The American Cancer Society groups colorectal screening tests into three main categories — blood tests, stool sample tests and visual exams, with colonoscopy. While each kind of test offers different benefits, a colonoscopy remains the gold standard for this life-saving screening. Talk with your doctor about which screening is right for you, especially if you have any family history of colon cancer. Lung Cancer Lung cancer is the second most common cancer. Because lung cancer doesn’t present symptoms until the advanced stages, it is not detected early as often, making it the leading cause of death from cancer. Medical advancements in the last decade have made early detection possible. The gold standard test, a low-dose CT scan, is used to screen people at higher risk. Samaritan’s early-stage lung cancer screening program is designed to support high-risk people who meet the following criteria: 50 to 77 years old. Currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Have 20 or more years of smoking history. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about lung cancer and screening. Early detection saves lives. Schedule appointments for the recommended cancer screenings as part of your routine health care. To learn more about cancer care at Samaritan, visit samhealth.org/Cancer.
