Special Supplement to The Glendale Star and Peoria Times
HEALTH
WELLNESS Your Local Guide to Better Living
SPRING 2021
INSIDE This Issue
Cancer won’t wait for COVID-19 BY CANCER TREATMENT CENTERS OF AMERICA
I ARROWHEAD VALLEY ................. 4 Warm, friendly and comfortable senior living
GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE .............. 11 Protecting your health during stressful times
HEALTHY BLOOD PRESSURE .......... 20 8 ways to better your blood pressure
t’s officially been a year since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted everything, including cancer screenings. According to an analysis by the Epic Health Research Network, preventative cancer screenings dropped substantially nationwide in 2020. More specifically, cervical cancer screenings declined by 94% and colorectal cancer screenings were down 86%, compared with the same time period in previous years. The data continues to reflect a persistent decline in cancer screenings, which may result in hundreds of thousands of missed screenings — or worse yet — finding lateor advanced-stage cancers because of a delayed screening. This is why it is imperative to resume routine screenings now. When to be screened for some cancers may depend on your risk. Below are recommendations from the American Cancer Society (ACS), the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Breast cancer: High-risk individuals include those with a family history of breast/ ovarian cancer with two or more close relatives on the same side (especially when diagnosed before 50); inherited genetic mutations (BRCA1, BRCA2, CDH1, PALB2, PTEN or Tp53); or a breast biopsy showing atypical cells, lobular carcinoma in situ or atypical lobular hyperplasia.
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Cancer Treatment Centers of America’s main Arizona hospital is in Goodyear. (Photo courtesy of CTCA)
Women with dense breasts, family history in distant relatives, and diagnosed in their 50s are considered at moderate risk. Most women in good health with no family history are considered to be at average risk. Recommendations: USPSTF: women 40 to 49 make individual decision; mammograms every other year for women 50 to 74; and annual mammograms at 40 for high-risk women. ACS recommends yearly mammograms for women 45 to 54; every other year for women 55-plus; and MRI and yearly mammogram for highrisk women. ACOG: yearly mammograms for average risk women 40 to 75; women with BRCA1/BRCA 2 mutation or one or
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more family members with the mutation: twice yearly clinical breast exams, annual mammograms, MRIs and regular breast self-exams. Colorectal cancer: Risk factors include patients 45-plus, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, sedentary lifestyles, tobacco use, moderate to heavy alcohol use, personal history of colorectal polyps, family history of colorectal cancer, African American or Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colitis or Crohn’s disease, and Lynch syndrome or other inherited gene mutations.
Cancer...continued on page 2 Midwestern University Ther apy Institute Your Family’s Home for Healthcare
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