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Pathology experts are urging Australians to focus on their health and get five specific, often overlooked tests by 2023.
They include a cervical screening test, a liver function test, a type 2 diabetes test, a bowel cancer screening test, and a prostate-specific antigen test.
Pathology Awareness Australia says the “more maintainable resolution” could dramatically increase the chances of successfully treating any potential condition.
Pathology experts are urging Australians to make their New Year’s resolutions to get five specific pathology tests in 2023 (file image)
Experts recommend scheduling all five pathology tests, when appropriate, and discussing your risk factors and symptoms as a priority at your next doctor visit.
‘Pathology tests are with Australians from the cradle to the grave. A person’s first pathology test can be done just minutes after birth,” the experts said.
“The tests can detect health problems early when they are most treatable.”
1. Cervical Screening Test (CST)
The first test to prioritize is a cervical screening test that looks for human papillomavirus, a virus known to cause most cervical cancers.
From July 2022, patients in Australia can self-collect samples for testing, meaning they no longer need their GP or nurse to insert a speculum to collect the cervical sample.
Anyone who has been in sexual contact with someone with the virus is at risk of contracting the asymptomatic condition.
It is recommended that people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 74 have a cervical screening every five years.
“Young people who have been vaccinated are not protected against all HPV types, so they should still be tested.”
“Australians should be aware that cervical cancer prevention requires regular screening, as well as HPV vaccination for those who are eligible,” said Professor Marion Saville.
Australian Cervical Cancer Awareness Organizationget pap smearHe recently created a crowdsourced directory of all the doctors in Australia who made patients feel comfortable during the trial.
2. Liver Function Test (LFT)
This test detects substances in the blood that are produced by liver cells when they are damaged.
Some common symptoms of liver disease include jaundiced skin, dark urine, abdominal pain, and swelling in the legs and ankles. Anyone with symptoms should get tested.
Lifestyle factors, such as increased alcohol consumption and reduced exercise, can have a negative impact on liver health.
The liver being an integral part of the body, anyone with symptoms should be tested for possible liver problems.
3. HbA1c (type 2 diabetes test)
This test can diagnose and help manage type 2 diabetes, and it is particularly important for people over the age of 35 to consider the test.
Risk factors for this condition include age, weight, and activity level.
If a person is over 35 years of age, has a waist circumference greater than 100 cm, and exercises less than two and a half hours per week, this test is recommended.
Diabetes can have negative effects on the kidneys, heart, and eyes, but symptoms may not show up for years.
This test can diagnose and help manage type 2 diabetes, and it’s especially important for people over the age of 35 to talk to their doctor about when and how often they should have this test (file image)
4. Screening for bowel cancer
Australians can perform this test at home in five minutes using the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.
This disease has a 90% treatment success rate if caught early, so it is recommended that people over the age of 50 participate in the program every two years.
Changes in bowel habits, stool consistency, and blood in the stool may be symptoms of the disease.
“For some, bowel cancer will have minimal symptoms until late in the disease, making early diagnosis difficult without screening,” advised Dr. Nick Musgrave, anatomical pathologist.
Australians can now perform this test at home in five minutes using the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program
5. Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test
This type of cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, so early detection is vital.
In Australia, it is recommended that men have a PSA blood test every two years from the age of 50 to 70.
Difficulty urinating is a telltale sign of the condition.
For those at higher risk, such as those with a family history, regular testing may start earlier.
Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, so early detection is vital. Difficulty urinating is a telltale sign of the condition.