On September 7, 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert for women about the risks involved with ovarian cancer screening tests. According to the FDA, no current screening test is sensitive enough to identify ovarian cancer without inaccurate results. As such, the FDA is concerned that patients and physicians might be misled by these results and make unnecessary treatment decisions.

Colorectal cancer will account for an estimated 49,000 deaths in 2016. It’s currently the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. However, when caught early through screening procedures, the five-year survival rate is 90%. On June 15, 2016, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released updated colorectal cancer screening guidelines to better inform healthcare professionals and patients of best ways to detect colon cancer early.

There are numerous activities to promote breast cancer awareness.  My youngest daughter, Elaine, is a nursing student who also swims for the Saint Louis University Billikens.  During October, the entire team, men and women donned pink caps and shirts instead of their typical bright blue to promote awareness about breast cancer.  The team was unified on this one, and I have no doubt it made people stop and think.  Anything that makes people think about the early detection of breast cancer is a good thing.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recently updated its 2003 breast cancer screening guidelines, including major changes in the recommendations for breast cancer screening procedures with important implications to all clinical nurses, not just those in oncology.

Adequate evidence suggests that annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography in current and former smokers aged 55–79 years who have significant cumulative tobacco smoke exposure can prevent a substantial number of lung cancer deaths, according to draft guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

The con­tro­versy over prostate can­cer screen­ing guide­lines heated up last Novem­ber