Early detection saves lives: Understanding the importance of cancer screenings

Every two minutes, on average, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. And for the one in eight women who will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, some may first notice symptoms like a lump or change in breast size or shape, whereas others may not have any symptoms at all. It’s why keeping up with recommended screenings and preventive care is so important.

“I’m living proof that prevention is everything,” breast cancer survivor Suzanne Capodanno shared in a Boston Globe article. At 50 years old, Suzanne received a stage 0 cancer diagnosis thanks to regular screenings. From age 30, she started getting mammograms twice a year after learning about her family’s health history and genetic predisposition to cancer. Doctors kept an eye on an area of concern, ultimately determining it was cancer – but fortunately it was detected at its earliest stage when it was easiest to treat. “I was so incredibly lucky,” Suzanne went on to say.

Following recommended preventive screenings and tests is important, but family history can offer even more tailored insights into additional screenings or diagnostic testing that should be prioritized as well.

A complete picture of health

Major health issues like cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease can all be indicated by family health history. Family health history, which should be inclusive of your extended family and not just your parents or siblings, can show patterns and uncover any health conditions that may run in your family. Your doctor can then use that information to advise on which screenings and tests you may want to consider getting to reduce your risk of developing any of the same conditions. And it’s important to note that while other factors, like environmental ones and lifestyle choices, can be indicators of disease risk, having an open dialogue with your family about health history is a good way to be proactive for your future health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) even offers resources on how to approach conversations with family members to create a complete picture of you and your family’s health.

Because Suzanne shared her own health history, her sons, who are in their 20s, are proactive about their own health and well-being by prioritizing annual cancer screenings.

Early detection saves lives

Family health history and other factors can determine if you may want to get a certain cancer screening sooner, but for those with minimal risk factors, most screenings are recommended based on age. For breast cancer screenings, the American College of Radiology recommends annual screenings starting at age 40 for those with an average risk for breast cancer as an early detection measure.

“Early detection can save somebody’s life,” says Eliza Blay, director of operations, QA and compliance, at Point32Health. After losing a friend in her early 40s to cancer, Eliza became a champion for early cancer detection and sought out how to make screening opportunities more readily available for her colleagues. Her efforts led to collaborating with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for on-site breast cancer screenings through their Mammography Van.

Perfect timing for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Mammography Van arrived at the Point32Health campus in Canton on October 8, where employees were able to get their annual breast cancer screenings through a pre-scheduled appointment. The van offered digital screenings (a 3D mammography) that took less than 20 minutes per person, which made it easy for colleagues to schedule during the workday.

“It was just so easy,” Eliza shares. “You take 20 minutes out of your day, walk to the parking lot for your screening and go back to work.”

And while Point32Health employees have the needed flexibility with work schedules to see their doctors, it may not be as easy for everyone to keep up with preventive care appointments. Some common barriers to seeking care are time constraints, lack of transportation and distance to a provider. Offering a resource like the Mammography Van, which travels year-round in the Boston area, helps make the preventive care process that much easier and accessible.