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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:External Website

For More Information (General):

For More Information (Screening- Cervical and Pelvic):

For More Information (Screening- Colorectal):

For More Information (Screening- Lung):

For More Information (Screening Mammogram):

For More Information (Screening- Prostate):

References

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