Cancer Screening Is Not Just For Seniors

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is now recommending lowering the recommended age for colon and rectal cancer screening from age 50 to age 45.  Colorectal cancer recently took the life of “Black Panther” movie star Chadwick Boseman.  He was just 43.  Under the Affordable Care Act, most health insurers would be required to cover the additional screening after the recommendation becomes final, following a one month public comment period.

 

Carmel, CA Cancer Victims Soon To Have More Options With Liquid Biopsies

Blood tests have come a long way over the past decade.  There are now what are called liquid biopsies which picks up genetic material shed by cancer tumors into the blood.  This allows doctors to avoid invasive procedures where they have to go in and actually do surgery and cut off a piece of the suspected tissue.  The liquid biopsies are also useful for sampling hard-to-reach tumors that are deeply embedded in internal organs.  For now, the blood tests are not used to screen for cancers in healthy people but to guide treatments for those who have already been diagnosed.  Someday, however, they may replace biopsies for a number of types of potential cancers.  Speak to one of the oncologists at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula to get more information.