February is National Cancer Prevention Month: Prevention and Screening of Utmost Importance
By Sue McMillan, Nurse Practitioner, VMH Waukon Medical Clinic
Recently the state of Iowa has the undesired statistic of the second highest cancer rate in the United States, (Kentucky is first). All of us have been impacted by cancer, either personally or through someone we know.
What can we do to help prevent cancer? What can we do to detect cancer early and have a better outcome if diagnosed with cancer?
There are both prevention and screening measures that one can incorporate to help reduce mortality for many cancers.
General prevention measures include:
- Avoid tobacco.
- Be physically active
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and low in unsaturated/trans fat, red meat and processed meat.
- Limit alcohol.
- Protect against sexually transmitted infections, including vaccine against HPV.
- Protect against the sun and avoid tanning beds.
Screening measures include annual physical exams by a healthcare provider, breast exam, mammograms, Pap and pelvic exam, colonoscopy, prostate, and lung cancer screenings. Did you know that each of these screenings can be done right here at our hometown Veterans Memorial Hospital and Clinics? With early detection through screening, outcomes are much more favorable.
Cancer is scary. However, prevention and early detection is of utmost importance. Please make your appointment today with your healthcare provider. and discuss cancer screening. That appointment may save your life.
