Cancer risk varies from person to person; higher or lower chances of developing a disease are determined by family history, genetics, and lifestyle. Talking to a primary care provider about preventative screenings is crucial in detecting serious conditions before symptoms even appear. Preventative care shifts the focus from managing illness to maintaining wellness.
“I usually begin talking about cancer prevention in early adulthood. There is a large focus on dietary and lifestyle modifications,” says Torie Ritter-Stephens, Physician Assistant at Cayuga Health, a Member of Centralus Health.
Your healthcare provider tailors screenings to your specific age, gender, and habits. This helps you proactively manage your health, lower long-term risks, and ultimately increase your chances of living a longer, healthier life.
“For example, I like to talk about tobacco products, as they’re linked to lung cancer and various other cancers. I also talk about using sunscreen to prevent skin cancer later in adulthood.”
Because of biological and hormonal differences, as well as varying risk factors for certain diseases, gender-specific medical tests are standard practice in preventative healthcare.
“For men, we usually start screening for prostate cancer by the age of 45.”
Women are at higher risk of developing cancer-related illnesses at a younger age than men, leading to earlier conversations with providers about preventative testing.
“For women, we usually start screening for cervical cancer at age 21 with pap smears. At age 40, we begin screening for breast cancer with mammograms.”
Cancer is considered universal because it can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. Everyone is screened for common, aggressive forms of the disease, like melanoma.
“Men and women are usually screened for colorectal cancer through colonoscopies or stool samples by the age of 45.”
Preventive screening is not one-size-fits-all. Certain cancers can affect anyone, making it crucial to use your annual check-up to review which tests are right for your current age and health history. Torie says finding cancer and intervening early on means treatment is less invasive, more effective, and significantly less expensive.
“Early detection is really important because it helps to improve outcomes and reduce the likelihood of a cancer diagnosis.”
Some screening tests can find growths and remove them before they have a chance to turn into cancer and spread to other parts of the body.
“Whenever we catch them at an earlier stage, they’re usually smaller, more localized, and easier to treat.”
Cancer is found through a combination of screening tests for high-risk individuals, diagnostic imaging, and samples for laboratory testing that analyzes cells for abnormalities.
“For a positive diagnosis, this is a very individualized approach. It’s based on who the person is, how they’re able to handle it, and what type of cancer they’re diagnosed with.”
When cancer is detected, doctors immediately shift to staging and characterizing the disease to determine the best treatment plan. You will undergo further diagnostic testing. A biopsy, where a tissue sample is removed for analysis, is usually required for a definitive diagnosis.
“Next step, from a primary care perspective, is referring them to the appropriate specialist. That’s usually an oncology provider.”
A primary care physician acts as your central partner in health, providing preventative care, managing chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension, and coordinating specialist care to prevent fragmented, costly, and inefficient treatment. They offer personalized, long-term care by knowing your medical history and lifestyle, which reduces hospitalization, improves health outcomes, and catches issues early.
Primary care providers specialize in prevention, detection, and treatment of illnesses. Internal medicine primary care providers see adults, and family medicine doctors and practitioners see all ages. Cayuga Health offers primary care services at 40 Catherwood Road, Ithaca; 905 Hanshaw Road, Ithaca; 401 Cayuga Park Lane, Ithaca; 260 Tompkins Street, Cortland; 5 Evergreen Street, Dryden; 2138 West Seneca Street, Ovid; 220 Steuben Street, Montour Falls, and 217 N. Aurora Street, Ithaca. Arnot Health offers primary care services at 100 John Roemmelt Drive, Horseheads; 418 S. Hamilton Street, Erwin; 600 Roe Avenue, Elmira; 309 Hoffman Street, Elmira; 15 Community Drive, Addison, and 455 Maple Street, Big Flats.
