Start the new year right: Why routine health check-ups and cancer screenings matter
According to the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Encuesta de Detección Temprana 2024, close to 2 in 5 adults in the U.S. (39%) say they haven’t had a routine medical appointment or cancer screening in the last 12 months. But skipping out on annual or other routine screenings and appointments means missing out on the chance to check your health.
As we approach the new year, consider adding “find a primary care provider” to your list of resolutions. Here’s why—and what you can expect when you arrive for your visit.
Why should I see a primary care provider?
Talking to a health care provider annually is a great way to address questions and issues you have on a routine basis. Going to a health care provider regularly—even when you feel fine—can lead to better health outcomes. You don’t need to wait for signs or symptoms of disease (or other problems) to see a doctor. Routine appointments and screenings make it possible to catch some developing cancers early, when successful treatment is more likely.
“If we screen you and make sure nothing’s going on, then the worst won’t happen,” says family physician Jeffrey Zavala, M.D., FAAFP and director of the American Academy of Family Physicians. “The longitudinal care that family physicians have with people is important. We develop relationships, we have time to talk with patients, and we encourage them to do the right thing.”
What will a primary care provider discuss at my appointment?
The “right thing” for cancer prevention and early detection looks different for everybody. Based on your risk factors, your health care provider will help determine which cancer screenings you need, when to begin screening and how often you should be screened. Even people at average risk should get routine cancer screenings based on their age. According to the 2024 Early Detection Survey, 59% of adults say they have received information regarding cancer screenings from a primary care provider.
You can get started before you arrive at your appointment with a personalized screening plan. Take this one-minute quiz and share your results with your health care provider for further discussion.
Discussions about lifestyle are also important to have with your provider, according to Todd Pickard, PA-C, DFAAPA, president-elect of the American Association of Physician Associates. With the knowledge we have today, up to 50% of cancer cases and about 50% of cancer deaths are preventable. Along with scheduling and getting your routine cancer screenings, making lifestyle changes can be an effective way to reduce your cancer risk.
“We know that we can manage and mitigate more than half of the risks associated with cancer just by paying attention to things like maintaining a healthy weight, not using tobacco products, reducing the use of alcohol, getting daily exercise, sleeping eight hours a day and controlling sun exposure,” Pickard said. Your primary care provider can help get you on the right track for any lifestyle changes you need.
READ: Formas de prevenir el cáncer
Going to a primary care provider means you can get a complete review of your health. Pickard notes that in addition to exámenes de detección de cáncer de rutina, getting regular blood work and paying attention to your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol will also support a healthy lifestyle.
What if I don’t have insurance or can’t get to an appointment?
If you don’t have health insurance, there are a variety of resources available to help you locate free and low-cost medical care in your local community.
Community health centers or walk-in clinics and urgent care centers may be an option for accessing primary care. You can also call a provider’s office and ask what options are available for someone without insurance.
To get health insurance, visit healthcare.gov or contact your Social Services department to find out if you qualify for free or low-cost plans through the open market.
If you’re unable to get to an appointment, some providers offer virtual visits that you can do from home. Visit preventcancer.org/find to search for a health care provider that offers these types of appointments.
Even if you can’t get to a primary care provider, you should explore avenues to get your routine cancer screenings done. In addition to providing routine screenings for different types of cancer, some programs offer testing for other conditions, such as hepatitis B or C, that may increase your risk of developing cancer. They also may provide access to vaccinations, such as virus del papiloma humano (HPV) and hepatitis B vaccines, which can reduce your risk for certain cancers.
Contact your local hospital or health care facility to ask if they offer routine cancer screening, testing and vaccination through their foundations or outreach programs (including mobile testing).
For more information on free and low-cost cancer screenings, testing and vaccinations, visit preventcancer.org/free. Keep in mind that even with insurance, the costs of services can vary.
What’s the difference between MDs, NPs, and PAs? Who should I go to?
If you’ve questioned before whether you need to see a medical doctor, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant, you are not alone. The good news is that you can be seen by any of these professionals to receive the care you need.
- Medical Doctors (MDs) have completed medical school and residency training. They provide comprehensive care, ranging from preventive services to complex medical treatments, and often specialize in specific areas of medicine.
- Physician Assistants (PAs) are medical professionals who often work alongside physicians, performing many of the same duties as doctors, including diagnosing and treating illnesses, prescribing medications and assisting in surgeries.
- Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice registered nurses with additional training and education. They can diagnose and treat illnesses and prescribe medications.
The main difference from physicians is that PAs and NPs have fewer years of training and do not perform a residency before becoming credentialed. Often, a primary care practice will include a combination of one or more clinicians with any of the three types of credentials.
“If there’s something that’s really complicated, the physician (MD) can step in and help with it,” says Zavala. “But in making sure you’re getting your preventative care, then PAs and NPs are a very important part of that team.”
Valerie Fuller, DNP, president-elect of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, says educating her patients is the part of her job she loves best. “I enjoy emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention, for example, ‘This is what the ABCDEs of moles look like’, or ‘Have the borders of this thing on your skin changed?’ Prevention is how we ensure the best outcomes,” she says.
Where can I learn more?
Checking your health sometimes feels like a daunting task, but routine screenings and appointments can mean better outcomes for your health—that means more treatment options, more healthy days ahead and more time with the people you love.
Get started with these resources:
- Printable resources to bring to your next appointment, like the family health history chart y screening checklist
For more resources and ways to check your health, visit preventcancer.org/resources.