Screen Early, Treat Better: How Early Detection Benefits Health Outcomes

Recommended cancer screenings are more than another item on your To Do list. Getting the screenings you need based on your personal and family medical history and risk factors can help detect cancer early before you experience symptoms and when it is often more treatable. Screenings can detect precancerous changes that may be treated to prevent cancer from developing. For example, removing precancerous polyps during a colonoscopy can stop them from turning into cancer. Early detection through screening can also give you more treatment options and may help you avoid more aggressive treatments, leading to better outcomes.

Start with a personalized cancer screening strategy

There are standard cancer screening recommendations, which are designed to provide guidance to people at average risk. Those include:

• Cervical cancer screening, starting at age 25: The recommended test is a primary HPV test with a sample collected by a healthcare provider, repeated every five years if the test is negative. If the test is positive, your healthcare provider may recommend more frequent testing. There are other testing options, including a new HPV home self-test (every three years) and a combined HPV/Pap test (every five years).
• Breast cancer screening, starting at age 40 for women at average risk: The current guidelines recommend screening mammograms every year starting at age 40. If you have a family or personal history of breast cancer or a genetic mutation that increases your risk of developing breast cancer, such as a mutation in the BRCA1 or 2, ATM, PALB2, CHEK2, and CDH1 genes, or genetic syndromes including Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, talk with your healthcare provider about when you should start undergoing screening mammograms and how often you should be screened.
• Colon cancer screening, starting at age 45 for people at average risk: There are a number of colon cancer screening options, including colonoscopy, genetic stool-based tests, and fecal immunochemical tests (FIT). The gold standard is colonoscopy at the interval recommended by your healthcare provider. The interval may vary based on your colonoscopy results, family history, whether you have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), and any genetic risk factors, such as Lynch syndrome. Talk with your provider to decide which testing option and interval is most appropriate for you.
• Prostate cancer screening: For men who are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, the current recommendation is to talk with your healthcare provider and weigh the benefits and potential risks of screening with a PSA blood test starting at age 45. Factors that increase your risk include being African American or Caribbean with African ancestry, having a family history of prostate cancer, having a mutation in the BRCA1 or 2 gene, and having Lynch syndrome.
• Lung cancer screening: Yearly, low-dose CT screening is recommended for people between the ages of 50 and 80 who currently smoke, who’ve quit smoking in the last 15 years, and those with a 20-pack/year smoking history (one pack a day for 20 years, two packs a day for 10 years, etc.)

While there is not a universal recommendation for skin and oral cancer screening, many healthcare providers do recommend these simple, non-invasive screenings for their patients, including:

• Skin cancer screening: Monthly self-checks for changes in the skin, new growths, or moles or growths that have changed can help identify skin cancer early. Depending on your personal and family history, your healthcare provider may recommend annual full body checks with a dermatologist.
• Oral cancer: Your annual dentist’s appointment should include an exam checking for signs of oral cancer. If you’re at an increased risk of developing oral cancer because of tobacco or alcohol use or HPV infection, talk with your primary care provider and develop a personalized screening schedule.

The best approach to cancer screening is to talk with your primary care provider about your personal and family risk factors. Using that information as a guide, you and your provider can develop a personalized cancer screening plan designed to lower your cancer risk. Your health advisor can also provide evidence-based information to help shape your plan and can connect you with specialists if needed.

Of course, if you experience any symptoms that could be related to cancer, make an appointment with your healthcare provider right away so he or she can perform a physical exam and refer you for diagnostic testing. Symptoms that warrant a call to your provider include:

• Ongoing fatigue not related to your activity level
• Losing weight without trying
• A lump or thickening under the skin
• Sores that don’t heal
• Changes in bowel or bladder function
• Ongoing cough or hoarseness
• Ongoing, unexplained fever or night sweats
• Unexplained bleeding and/bruising
• Trouble swallowing
• Shortness of breath
• Persistent new headaches, seizures, and/or vision changes

Proactive steps to help reduce your cancer risk

There are two types of risk factors that affect your overall risk of developing cancer—non-modifiable and modifiable. Non-modifiable risk factors, those you cannot change, include genetic mutations, being older, family and personal medical history, gender, factors like breast density, previous radiation treatment, and race/ethnicity

By changing modifiable risk factors, however, you can lower your cancer risk. Key strategies include:

• Choosing a healthy diet: eating more plants and less red/processed meat
• Taking part in regular, moderate physical activity
• Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight
• Not smoking or using tobacco products
• Using sunscreen
• Limiting or avoiding alcohol
• Getting recommended vaccines for HPV and hepatitis B
• Getting recommended preventive care checkups

Staying informed about recommended cancer screenings and taking proactive steps to reduce your risk empowers you to protect your health and well-being. By working closely with your healthcare provider to create a personalized screening schedule and adopting healthy lifestyle habits, you can increase your chances of early detection and successful treatment. Remember, prioritizing regular screenings is not just a box to check—it’s a vital investment in your future. Take charge of your health today, and encourage your loved ones to do the same, so you can all look forward to a healthier tomorrow.

Connect with PinnacleCare

For more information about how PinnacleCare’s Health Advisors can help with cancer screenings and much more, connect with us today.

PinnacleCare is a member of the Sun Life Financial Inc. (“Sun Life”) family of companies. PinnacleCare and its employees do not diagnose medical conditions, recommend treatment options or provide medical care, and any information or services provided should not be considered medical advice. Any medical decisions should be made only after consultation with and at the direction of your medical provider. Any person or entity who provides health care services following a referral or other service provided does so independently and not as an agent or representative of PinnacleCare.

© 2026 PinnacleCare International, LLC, Baltimore, MD. All rights reserved.

PCWC-10116-31                     #4362293216 02/26 (exp. 02/28)