April Is National Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Month

A Background With Orange, Green, Yellow, Pink, Blue, Red, Purple, Green, And Blue Stripes With Words Overtop That Reads &Quot;National Cancer Prevention Month&Quot; Next To A Ribbon.

Cancer isn’t something we like to think about. However, spreading cancer awareness and emphasizing the importance of early detection are key to getting better outcomes if you or a loved one should ever be diagnosed with the disease.

Schedule your CT scan today.

April Is National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month

According to the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC), in 2022, President Biden set a new goal for Project Moonshot (the government project to increase cancer prevention and improve diagnosis and treatment). The goal was to reduce the cancer death rate by 50% within the next 25 years while simultaneously finding ways to improve the lives of survivors, cancer patients, and their families.

This goal led President Biden to declare April 2024 to be National Cancer Prevention Month. To celebrate the second annual cancer awareness month, consider checking out Preventative Diagnostic Center, and getting yourself screened.

Raising Awareness for Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Is Crucial

According to the Prevent Cancer Foundation, in early 2024, roughly 70% of people surveyed said they were not up-to-date on at least one of their routine cancer screenings, and as many as 43% didn’t even know they needed to be screened. This is why National Cancer Prevention Month aims to spread awareness about how early detection can provide better health outcomes and, in some cases, may even be lifesaving.

According to the American Cancer Society, thanks to increased awareness of the dangers of smoking, the risk of dying from cancer has been steadily declining over the last 30 years. However, cancer rates in the U.S. for the six most common types of cancer are on the rise.

Overall incidence of certain cancers are becoming more common in younger populations. Fortunately, four of the cancers with increasing trends have routine screening tests.

Steps You Can Take Today To Prevent Cancer

According to the Mayo Clinic, several lifestyle factors reduce the risk of cancer, such as:

Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle

Medical research points to a healthy lifestyle contributing to fewer instances of cancer. The following are the main areas that reduce the risk of cancer:

Avoiding tobacco use of any kind: It’s common knowledge that smoking increases your chance of lung cancer, but smoking has also been linked to an increased risk of cancer in the mouth, throat, voice box, pancreas, bladder, cervix, and kidneys. Chewing tobacco is also linked to several of these cancers.
Eating a healthy diet with a lot of fruits and vegetables: Plant-based diets that are low in fats (especially saturated fat), added sugar, salt, red meat, and processed meat may lower the risk of cancer.
Maintaining a healthy weight: This may lower the risk of cancer in the breast, pancreas, liver, colon, and kidneys.
Getting plenty of exercise: This may also further reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer.
Drinking alcohol in moderation (if at all): The more you drink, the higher your risk of breast, colon, lung, kidney, and liver cancers is.

Avoiding Risky Behaviors

The following risky behaviors increase your risk of certain types of cancer:

Not protecting your skin from UV rays: Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, but it’s also the easiest to prevent. Spending too much time in the sun (especially without sun protection), using tanning beds, or using sunlamps all contribute to increased skin cancer risk. You can’t and shouldn’t avoid the sun altogether, but you should avoid prolonged direct sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., always wear sunblock (SPF 30 or higher, applied regularly), and strategically use sunglasses, sunhats, and sun protective clothing to reduce your risk.
Unprotected sex: The more sexual partners you have (especially without using a condom), the greater your chances of contracting HIV or HPV, which are both linked to increased rates of cancers in the cervix, anus, penis, throat, vulva, and vagina.
Sharing needles: Sharing needles increases the risk of HIV as well as Hepatitis B and C, which have been linked to liver cancer.

Getting Regular Preventative Medical Care

Preventative care is the best strategy for cancer prevention and early detection that can be lifesaving. The following are preventative care measures you should ensure you’re doing:

Seeing the doctor and dentist regularly helps assess cancer risk factors, such as family history, exposure to toxins, and other risk factors you may be unaware of.
Getting vaccinated for Hepatitis B and HPV.
Getting all recommended cancer screenings. All people should be getting cancer screenings for skin and colon cancer. Those who have a cervix and breasts should be getting screened for those types of cancer as well. Lastly, lung cancer screenings are also recommended for those meeting certain criteria.

Early Cancer Detection

The following imaging scans can detect cancer early:

Computed tomography (CT) scan
Bone scan
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
Nuclear scan

Whole Body CT Scans for Cancer Detection in Las Vegas

Preventative Diagnostic Center provides full-body CT scans to check for any abnormalities throughout the body. The scan takes detailed photos of the inside of your body from your thyroid to your pelvis. A full-body CT scan offers the following benefits:

Low-radiation exposure
High accuracy
Can find abnormalities in the bladder
Can find abnormalities in the bowel
Can find abnormalities in the kidneys
Can find abnormalities in the ovaries
Can find abnormalities in the stomach

What Cancers Can a Whole-Body CT Scan Catch?

According to the National Cancer Institute (NIH), CT scans are most commonly used to detect lung cancer and colon cancer. However, a full body scan wouldn’t necessarily be the most effective at detecting these specific types of cancer. To check for early signs of colon cancer, consider a virtual colonoscopy, and to check for early signs of lung cancer, consider a lung CT scan.

Why Choose Preventative Diagnostic Center?

Unfortunately, it can sometimes take months for the referral process to take place through a doctor’s office. Preventative Diagnostic Center in Las Vegas offers affordable, low-dose CT scans without a doctor’s referral and insurance, all while using state-of-the-art technology to reduce radiation exposure, while still providing you with top-quality imaging.

FAQ

How Long Does a Whole-Body CT Scan Take?

The actual whole-body CT scan only takes about 10 seconds. The complete exam takes 10-15 minutes.

Is a CT Scan Painful?

No. There is no pain at all during a CT scan. You will only be required to hold still, and hold your breath for approximately 10 seconds.

How Long Before You Get the Results?

After your CT scan, you will receive your comprehensive radiology report within 10 days.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and staying on top of your health care greatly reduces your chances of developing cancer. If you’re looking to take charge of your healthcare even further by taking charge of your imaging needs as well, contact Preventative Diagnostic Center today.