Cancer Screening and Genetic Testing

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Cancer Screening involves medical tests used to detect cancer before symptoms appear. The goal is to find cancer early, when it is most treatable, and to identify early changes that may help prevent cancer from developing. 

Cancer Screening is Important because it

• Helps detect cancer early
• Can improve survival rates 
• May prevent cancer by finding early warning signs 

• Mammograms (breast cancer)
• Colonoscopies (colon cancer)
• Pap smears (cervical cancer)
• Low-dose CT scans (lung cancer for high-risk individuals) 

Genetic testing looks at your DNA to see if you have inherited gene changes that increase your risk of certain cancers. Genetic testing primarily does not detect cancer -- it identifies risk level.  

Genetic Testing is important because it 

• Helps identify higher-risk individuals for genetically inherited cancer-related gene mutations
• Can lead to earlier or more frequent screening
• Helps families understand shared health risks 

Examples: 

• BRCA1/BRCA2: (linked to breast and ovarian cancer)
• Lynch Syndrome: (linked to colon cancer, uterine cancer, and many other cancers)

Kids 4 Cancer Prevention recognizes that many adults are not up to date with recommended cancer screenings and some have never been screened. This highlights the need for greater education and awareness around cancer prevention and early detection. We address this through social media and presentations in schools and community centers, empowering kids to share this information with adults in their lives and communities.