February 1, 2022
February is National Cancer Prevention Month
- Each year, over 1.7 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer (Division of Cancer Prevention and Control At A Glance | CDC, 2020).
- An estimated 600,000 Americans die annually due to cancer (Division of Cancer Prevention and Control At A Glance | CDC, 2020).
- Those age 60 and over make up over two thirds of all newly diagnosed cancer cases. (Preventing Cancer Across a Lifetime | CDC, 2020)
The month of February has been designated as National Cancer Prevention Month. This month is dedicated to educating the public on the importance of prevention, screening, early detection, and treatment of cancers.
Cancer is defined as a condition in which abnormal cells uncontrollably grow and divide. These abnormal cells then begin to metastasize or spread throughout the body.
Risk factors for cancer can be broken into both modifiable (such as alcohol use, tobacco use, excessive weight/obesity, and HPV) and nonmodifiable (such as family history and genetics.).
Throughout the month of February, community outreach activities such as cancer screenings and educational opportunities are provided to promote awareness of techniques for cancer prevention. There are several steps you can take to assist your patients with cancer prevention include:
- Encouraging your patients to schedule annual wellness visits and health screenings
- Educating your patients on the importance of healthy habits such as exercising, eating a well-balanced diet, sun safety when outdoors, and quitting smoking.
Many types of cancers can be prevented with regular screening tests and follow-up care. Talk to your patients about these Medicare covered screenings and encourage them to take advantage of Medicare-covered preventive services.
To learn more about Medicare-covered services, visit CMS Preventive Services:
- Screening for Cervical Cancer with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Tests
- Screening Pelvic Examinations (includes a clinical breast examination)
- Screening Pap Tests
- Colorectal Screening
- Lung Cancer Screening Counseling & Annual Screening for Lung Cancer with Low Dose Computed Tomography
- Screening Mammography
- Prostate Cancer Screening
For More Information (General):
- CMS Medicare Preventive Services
- CMS Preventive Health Provider Resources
- Medicare National Coverage Determinations Manual (cms.gov)- Chapter 1, Part 4 (Sections 200 – 310.1) Coverage Determinations.
- Medicare Coverage for Cancer Prevention and Early Detection
- Cancer | CDC
- How to Prevent Cancer or Find It Early | CDC
- What Is Cancer? - National Cancer Institute
- Cancer Prevention Quiz (aacr.org)
For More Information (Screening- Cervical and Pelvic):
- MLN Booklet (MLN909032) December 2020- Screening Pap Tests & Pelvic Exams (cms.gov)
- National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Screening for Cervical Cancer with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) (210.2.1) (cms.gov)
- National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Screening Pap Smears and Pelvic Examinations for Early Detection of Cervical or Vaginal Cancer (210.2) (cms.gov)
For More Information (Screening- Colorectal):
- National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests (210.3) (cms.gov)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Colorectal (Colon) Cancer
- Screen for Life: National Colorectal Cancer Action Campaign | CDC
- Colonoscopy Screening Coverage (medicare.gov)
For More Information (Screening- Lung):
For More Information (Screening Mammogram):
- National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Mammograms (220.4) (cms.gov)
- NCD Manual, Ch. 1, Part 4, Section 210.14
For More Information (Screening- Prostate):
References
- American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer. (2020, July 30). www.cancer.org. https://www.cancer.org/healthy/find-cancer-early/american-cancer-society-guidelines-for-the-early-detection-of-cancer.html
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Control At A Glance | CDC. (2020, December 16). http://www.cdc.org/https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/aag/dcpc.htm
- Risk Factors and Cancer | CDC.(2021, February 18). www.cdc.gov.. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/risk_factors.htm