Cancer screening means checking your body for cancer before you show any symptoms. Having this type of test done regularly is beneficial because if caught early enough, cancer may be easier to treat and lead to a successful recovery. At Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island, New York, we are fully equipped to treat a wide variety of cancers and cancer-related conditions, as well as provide potentially life-saving cancer screenings for men and women.
The Importance of Cancer Screenings
The screenings offered at Richmond University Medical Center detect not only cancer in its earliest stages but also abnormal cells that could potentially develop into the disease. This makes cancer screenings crucial – the longer cancer goes undetected, the more symptoms develop and worsen, leading to the disease potentially spreading and becoming harder to treat or cure. Screening for cancer in patients of all genders, our team commonly uses physical exams, family histories, laboratory tests, imaging procedures, and genetic evaluations.
Most Common Cancers We Screen For
At Richmond University Medical Center, our oncologists provide a host of screening options that can detect numerous types of cancer in men and women. These include:
Screenings for Men
Knowing about cancers that afflict men, what you can do to help prevent them, or how to find them early might make the disease easier to treat and could even help save your life. Our team tests for some of the most common cancers that affect men, as well as the rare types, with screenings including the following and more:
- Prostate cancer: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. The chance of getting prostate cancer goes up as a man gets older, with most cases appearing in men over the age of 65 or with a family history of prostate cancer.
- Colorectal cancer: Some factors that increase colorectal cancer risk include being overweight or obese, physical inactivity, a diet high in red and processed meats, smoking, heavy alcohol use, being older, and a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or polyps.
- Lung cancer: Lung cancer is most often caused by exposure to chemicals and other particles in the air. While smoking tobacco is the leading cause of lung cancer, not all people with lung cancer are people who smoke or used to smoke – it can afflict anyone through radon exposure and other circumstances.
- Skin cancer: Anyone can get skin cancer, but people with fair skin are more likely to get it than people with darker skin.
Screenings for Women
Educating yourself on the common and rare cancers that affect women, as well as getting screened early and regularly, can make all the difference in your prognosis if you are diagnosed. Just a few of the cancer screenings we provide women include:
- Breast cancer: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women. It can occur at any age, but the risk goes up as you get older. Because of certain factors, some women may have a greater chance of having breast cancer than others, making regular screenings crucial.
- Cervical cancer: Chronic infections by certain types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) are the most common risk factors for cervical cancer. You can get HPV through intimate skin-to-skin contact, such as having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus. If you are sexually active, you should get tested for HPV regularly, as well as screened for cervical cancer.
- Ovarian cancer: Although ovarian cancer can occur at any age, it is more likely to occur as women get older. Women who have never had children, as well as who had their first child after age 35, may be at increased risk for this cancer. Women who have used estrogen alone as hormone replacement therapy are also at increased risk.
Learn about Cancer Screenings in Staten Island, NY
A cancer screening can detect early signs of cancer, giving patients a better chance at overcoming their condition. Since 1937, Richmond University Medical Center has been delivering oncology services to families in Staten Island, New York. To learn more, please contact us today.
