Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States. It’s a disease that becomes much more difficult to treat after spreading throughout the body. That’s why it’s so important for older Americans to stay on top of their health. Catching cancer early gives you more treatment options, along with a higher chance of a full recovery.
Two of the top types of cancer affecting older adults are prostate and colorectal. If you haven’t been checked for them yet, now is the perfect time to do so. Medicare can help you do it. Keep reading to learn more about these kinds of cancer and how to screen for them by using the health coverage you have through Medicare.
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Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths for men in the United States. If you don’t know, the prostate is a small gland that’s located in a man’s pelvis, right by his bladder. While prostate cancer isn’t always fatal, the risk of dying from it rises if you leave it untreated for too long. That’s why the prostate cancer screening services offered by Medicare should absolutely be a part of your healthcare plan moving forward.
There are a few key signs you can look for to determine whether you may have prostate cancer. The following is a shortlist of the most significant symptoms you should be watching out for:
Colorectal cancer is any type of cancer that affects the colon and rectum. It’s the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in women and third for men. You may hear it referred to as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer depending on who you speak to about it. Similarly to prostate cancer, it’s really important for older adults to screen for colorectal cancer regularly.
There are also several key symptoms you can look out for to identify whether you may have colorectal cancer already. These include:
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Medicare provides millions of older adults with the health insurance coverage they need to screen for prostate and colorectal cancer. There are a variety of tests and procedures you can undergo to test for these cancers.
First, Medicare Part B covers a digital rectal exam and specific antigen (PSA) blood tests once every 12 months. These are two of the most important screening procedures used to detect prostate cancer. It’s a good idea to get these done once per year so that you’re always on top of this dangerous form of cancer.
Medicare can help you screen for colorectal cancer through several covered medical procedures. One of these is the fecal occult blood test, which is available once every 12 months for adults over the age of 50.
Additionally, your flexible sigmoidoscopies and colonoscopies are covered under Medicare health insurance. Flexible sigmoidoscopies are available once every 48 months for higher-risk individuals and once every 120 months for lower-risk ones. Colonoscopies are available once every 24 months in high-risk individuals or once every 120 in lower-risk ones.
Cancer is a dangerous disease that causes a massive number of deaths in the United States. The best way to beat it is by staying on top of your health and getting screened for cancer regularly. Thankfully, Medicare makes that easy for older adults to accomplish. June is Men’s Health Month. Use your coverage this month and throughout the year to take care of your health and ensure you’re able to enjoy your future.
If you’re interested in more information about Medicare’s coverage options for men’s health screenings, feel free to fill out the form or give us a call anytime to ask any questions that may be lingering. We guarantee you that your licensed agent is focused first and foremost on providing you with information with zero pressure to enroll in a plan.
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