With the flurry of everyday life, it’s no wonder our health often takes a backseat to other concerns. But a preventive visit to the doctor now may help you avoid problems down the road.

Alaska Regional encourages you to take a moment to contact your healthcare provider and schedule a checkup today.  Don’t have a doctor? Call our FREE Physician Referral Service at 264-1722 (local) or 1-888-254-7884 (toll-free) and request a doctor by specialty, location or health insurance acceptance.

In addition to a flu shot and other adult immunizations, we recommend that both men and women have the following health screenings:

Blood Pressure – You may be at risk for stroke, heart and kidney disease if your blood pressure is too high. Check every year.

Cholesterol – High levels can lead to a heart attack and other cardiac diseases. Check at least every 5 years or annually if you are at risk.

Colorectal Cancer – Preventative screenings find pre-cancerous growths and can catch this cancer early. Start testing at age 50; earlier if you have risk factors.

Diabetes – Without treatment, this disease can be life threatening. A blood sugar test detects it early. Test every 3 years starting at age 45; earlier if you have risk factors.

Skin Cancer – This is the most common of all cancers, but it can almost always be cured if caught early. Monthly self-exams and yearly skin exams by a doctor, at every age.

Additional tests for Men:

Prostate Exam – Two tests detect cancer early; prostate specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination (DRE). If you are at risk, start testing at age 50.

Testicular Cancer  – Regular exams can detect painless lumps that could indicate cancer. Do self-exams monthly. Physician examination during your annual checkup.

Additional tests for Women:

Cervical Cancer – Pap tests can detect this cancer early and HPV tests reduce the risk. Regular tests, at least every 3 years after becoming sexually active.

Breast Cancer – Mammograms enable cancer treatment during early stages, when it is most effective. Yearly exams for all women age 40 and older.

Email audry.patrick@hcahealthcare.com> with your name and mailing address to request a free “Ten Health Tests for Men & Women” bookmark.

When it comes to breast cancer, there are more than a few myths out there, and we’d like to set the record straight.

Myth #1-Finding a lump in your breast means you have breast cancer.

This is completely false, and is the biggest misconception about breast cancer.  Finding a lump does not automatically mean you have breast cancer.  Much of the time the lump is benign; however, it is still crucial to get it checked out.

Myth #2- Having a family history of breast cancer means you will develop it.

Many diseases that run in the family increase your likelihood of developing them, and breast cancer is no exception, but this does not equate to an unavoidable battle with breast cancer.  In fact, most women who have breast cancer have no family history, and those who do should get a mammogram five years before the age of their family member’s diagnosis, or starting at age 35.

Myth #3- Mammograms can cause breast cancer to spread.

A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast, and it’s one of the best technologies to detect breast cancer early on.  Maybe the fact that X-rays operate off of radiating waves, or maybe the pressure put on the breast during the mammogram leads some to believe that this can cause cancer to spread.  This is absolutely false!

Myth #4- Deodorant and antiperspirants can cause breast cancer.

This is another big and also very false myth.  Researchers at the National Cancer Institute have been unable to find any conclusive evidence that links the use of deodorant to the development of breast cancer.

Myth #5- Men cannot develop breast cancer.

While a man’s chest looks very different from a woman’s, men do have breasts.  This means that even though the percentage of men who develop and die from breast cancer is very small, it still happens.  Therefore, men should also perform Breast Self-Exams and talk to their doctor about any changes.

Myth #6- Performing a Breast Exam is something that only my doctor can do.

This myth may be the worst one!  Giving yourself a Breast Self-Exam is vital to early detection and increases the odds of beating breast cancer.

Just how important are monthly BSE’s (Breast Self-Exams)? At Alaska Regional Hospital we know that if breast cancer is detected early on the five-year survival rate is 90% or better.  This is a survival rate we’d like to see go up, but we can only do it with your help.

Without the knowledge of what to look for, you may end up rushing to the doctor for a completely unnecessary visit.  This is why performing a regular Breast Self Exam is critical.  A lot of women say they don’t have the time or they don’t know how.  Well, a BSE takes less than 10 minutes and its once a month, which will require a lot less time and money than going to the doctor.

Don’t get us wrong though, you’ve still got to go in and see your doctor about once a year (if you’re older than 35) for an annual mammogram.  In the meantime, learn how to complete a Breast Self-Exam and know your risk factors.

Visit our Web site to learn more about detecting and fighting cancer

Source: http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/about-breast-cancer/myths.aspx