No one likes to think about getting cancer. Fortunately, there are some things we can do to try and prevent it and screenings we can have to help find some cancers early, when treatment can be most successful. We know that early detection does save lives.
Cancer screenings are equally important for men as they are for women. But for a variety of reasons, many men and women in Georgia don’t take advantage of them. So, as a father of two beautiful girls, a husband, a son and a son-in-law, I’m using this opportunity to unabashedly take advantage of Breast Cancer Awareness Month to send a reminder to men and women — schedule your cancer screenings today!
Below is information on two prevalent cancers affecting women and men:
Breast cancer. Sometimes breast cancer arrives without a calling card. There might not be a lump or a pain or any physical sign that something is wrong. Nearly 23 percent of the women over 50 years old eligible for screening did not get one in the last two years. That’s close to the national average of 22.2 percent; Georgia ranks 11th. We know this from publicly available Georgia data that we incorporate into our own State of the Health Care Report. Although Georgia is slightly better than the national average, our hope is to one day report much better numbers!
According to the National Cancer Institute, early detection greatly increases patient survival rates and, if cancer is found before it spreads to the lymph nodes, the five-year survival rate can exceed 98 percent.
Based on recommendations of national medical organizations, such as the American Cancer Society (ACS), Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia encourages annual mammography screenings for women ages 40-49 or those with greater risks for developing breast cancer. For women ages 50-74, mammography screenings are recommended every other year.
Did you know? Of the approximate 40,420 deaths from breast cancer this year, an estimated 450 of them will be men.
Prostate cancer. It affects only men, usually when they’re older. Did you know that a man is more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than a woman is to be diagnosed with breast cancer? In fact, prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America. One man in five will get prostate cancer during his lifetime. And, one man in 36 will die of this disease.
So men, it’s important to know your risks, which may include:
- Age – More than two out of every three prostate cancers are found in men over 65.
- Family history – Men with two or more relatives with prostate cancer are more than four times as likely to have it themselves. And men whose relatives were diagnosed before age 65 run the most risk.
- Race – African-American men get prostate cancer at a rate 56 percent higher than Caucasians. They are also more than twice as likely to die from it.
- Weight – Obesity can lead to a delay in diagnosis, longer recovery from surgery and a higher risk of death.
- Diet – Men who eat a diet high in animal fat may have a higher risk. Those whose diets are higher in fruits and vegetables may have a lower risk.
Many men with prostate cancer don’t have symptoms until their cancer gets worse. Symptoms for prostate cancer may include problems during urination, impotence, and bone or joint pain. However when men experience these symptoms, they are often thought to be due to other problems, so screening is the best form of detection.
Prostate cancers are usually suspected during a routine digital rectal exam (DRE) or through a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test. The blood test screens for raised levels of PSA, a protein made by the prostate. The ACS suggests that you discuss testing for prostate cancer — starting at age 50 — with your doctor to see what testing is appropriate for you.
Just last month I had the honor of joining six key Georgia-based CEOs onthe newly launched ACS Georgia CEOs Against Cancer committee. As the chairman of this committee, I’m working to recruit other Georgia-based CEOs throughout the state in an effort to increase and improve cancer prevention outreach through employer-based programs and initiatives.
Both men and women can take action to encourage screenings by reminding colleagues, family and friends of the importance of cancer screenings and early detection.
Life can get hectic and it may seem tough to find the time to fit it all in, but you must remember, it’s not just for you — it’s for you and all of the loved ones around you.
Kendrick is the president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia.