England’s Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, sadly announced her cancer diagnosis last week.
Although her stage of the disease has not yet been officially confirmed, it appears that the cancer was caught at an early stage since she is undergoing ‘preventive chemotherapy’.
If tumors have spread to other parts of the body, more aggressive forms of chemotherapy are traditionally given to kill the remaining cancer cells.
Kate Middleton also said in her public speech that she is feeling ‘fine’ and has assured her three young children that she is ‘doing well’.
You shouldn’t wait until you’re elderly to start screening for diseases, doctors say
The case of the young royal family shows how important regular screening for diseases can be.
And not just for cancer: Doctors recommend a number of preventive tests at every stage of life to prevent the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other conditions.
Regular screenings at an early age can have a dramatic impact on outcomes for all diseases, said Dr. Robert Biernbaum, chief medical officer of Wellnow Urgent Care. CBS News HealthWatch .
“Instead of seeing end-stage breast cancer and end-stage colon cancer, we would catch them at a younger age and they would have a better outcome.” So prevention is the key to being healthy,” he said.
Here are the essential tests you need to do at every stage of life.
In your 20s, you start arguing about your sexual health early on
Doctors recommend starting regular STD testing as soon as you become sexually active
The Princess of Wales is said to have waited until her three young children were on their Easter holidays before breaking the news of her diagnosis to the nation.
In your twenties, you should focus on screenings that will help you know your risks of developing diseases later in life, Dr Nadia Javaid, a general practitioner, told State Health Benefit Plan.
This includes regular tests for sexually transmitted infections, diabetes screeners, and cholesterol tests.
At this point in your life, there are still many lifestyle adjustments that can help you prevent future diseases, Javaid said. If you know you are at greater risk, you are more likely to take action.
For example, suppose you take an STD test and discover that you have the human papillomavirus. There are immediate surgical steps you can take to prevent cancer from developing later in life. According to the WHO.
Diabetes screening should also begin at this age because of the diabetes mellitus revival of obesity in America, Biernbaum said.
Prince William and Princess Kate, pictured with Prince George, Prince Charlotte and a baby Prince George at Anmer Hall in December 2018
If you know that you are at greater risk of developing diabetes at age 20, you can get started practicing new habitssuch as consuming less sugar and exercising more regularly, to reduce the chance of developing the disease.
You should also continue to screen for habits you may have already developed – by visiting a dentist, dermatologist and ophthalmologist. In concrete terms, according to the dentist, you should visit a dentist twice a year for an examination of your teeth and gums American Dental Association.
Finally, Biernbaum recommends reaching out to a mental health professional at this age, especially if you haven’t already done so. “In reality, screening should begin at age 12 and continue every year throughout a person’s life,” he said.
From this age onwards, STD, mental health, oral, skin and eye care examinations are recommended by doctors throughout life. according to CBS News.
In your thirties, look out for funny moles
Checking moles can help prevent skin cancer
If you’re in your 30s, the American Heart Association recommends paying attention to your heart health. To do this, you must have your blood pressure checked every time two yearsand your cholesterol control every four years.
Plus, at this point in your life you’ve probably been exposed to enough sun to possibly have developed some strange-looking moles, which could be carcinogenic. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends having an annual dermatological exam to ensure that freckles are just freckles.
If you’ve been lucky enough not to need glasses or contact lenses until now, you may never have been to an optometrist’s doorstep.
But the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that you get examined at least twice in your thirties to make sure there are no problems hiding behind your eyes.
Doctors also recommend being vigilant about your sexual health and screening for cervical and testicular cancer. “Unfortunately, we know that there is a higher risk of testicular cancer in your 20s and 30s,” said Dr. Steven Lamm, of NYU Langone, told CBS News.
If you are in your 40s, prepare for colon screening
Colorectal tests are not as invasive as they used to be
The US Centers for Disease ControlI recommend that you undergo regular intestinal examinations from the age of 45.
Fortunately, not all of these screeners require you to undergo an uncomfortable colonoscopy, as there are now over-the-counter exams that work well, Biernbaum said.
At the age of 40, doctors from the American College of Radiology also recommend that women get their first mammogram if they haven’t had one yet. From there, the ACR recommends that women be tested every two years to monitor for potential breast cancer.
Also, women should talk to their doctor about the symptoms of menopause during their annual visit starting at this age. Perimenopause, the initial phase of “the change,” can last as long as ten years, and usually begins around age 40, Dr. Jessica Shepard told CBS News.
At this stage, you should definitely continue to monitor your heart health and diabetes risk as your cardiovascular system continues to age. advises the AHA.
In your 50s, pay attention to the health of your lungs
New recommendations state that people should start screening for lung cancer from the age of 50
Once you reach this decade, doctors recommend getting screened for lung cancer. This new guideline from the American Cancer Society states that if you were a habitual smoker, you should repeat these exams annually.
From the age of 55 the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that men consider a prostate exam. They should talk to their doctor about their chances of developing prostate cancer and then decide how often they should be monitored for the disease.
The other range of tests are still recommended – from sexual health to dental checkups, and Dr. Céline Gounder told CBS that taking them now could save your future health. Even at the age of 50.
‘If you still smoke, stop smoking. “If you don’t exercise at all, even just walking a little bit every day, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, very small things can really make a big difference to your health,” she said.
When you’re sixty, take care of your bones
Bone health and density decline with age, especially in women
At this stage, most women will have gone through menopause, which can cause major changes in bone density. As such, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recommends that women age 65 and older take it testing for bone density.
Although women are at particular risk for conditions related to bone density, such as osteoporosis, men at this age may also want to explore similar tests, the office says. By having these types of tests, which usually just involve taking an X-ray, you can get an idea of whether you are at greater risk of developing a bone fracture.
As men enter this decade, they may be at greater risk for blood clots, especially if they smoke. So if you are a male smoker aged 65, advises the USPSTF examining abdominal aortic aneurysm testing.
These tests check whether the major blood vessels that supply blood to the body are unobstructed.
Lung, colorectal, prostate and breast examinations are important to continue at this age, in addition to regular maintenance such as skin, mouth and eye examinations.