Speaker 1: So, while June was National Cancer Survivor Month, it's important to stay healthy and know of screening opportunities near you all year round. Joining us this morning to tell us what screenings they have coming up and more is Medical Director with South County Health, Brian Krakowski. Good morning. Good to see you. Good morning. Thank you for having us. Great to have you. Alright, so let's talk about the message to Rhode Islanders, particularly in the communities served by South County Health.

Speaker 2: Sure. I think the biggest message is that early detection saves lives. In June, South County Health held a men's cancer screening for prostate cancer and every October we hold a breast health screening event during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Details of these can be found on South County's website. Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer among women in the United States. An annual mammogram starting at age 40 can have a significant effect on mortality. I would strongly urge women to talk to their health care providers today about booking a screening mammogram.

Speaker 1: Yeah, and it's simple and easy. I mean, my mother had breast cancer twice. Thank goodness it was caught early for her to move on with life and continue with life itself. And there's also an alarming rise in younger adults who are finding colorectal cancer.

Speaker 2: That's absolutely true. So colorectal cancer rates are on the rise. South County Health is committed to educating the community about this. We have a state-of-the-art endoscopy center for colonoscopies. If you check out our website, you'll find a very moving story called Brian's Story about a 46-year-old gentleman who upon his first colonoscopy was diagnosed with colon cancer and he credits that colonoscopy as being life-saving. Colon cancer screening rates, as we said, are on the rise among younger adults. Screening begins at age 45, either through a colonoscopy every 5 to 10 years or a still base test every 1 to 3 years. Again, reach out to your health care provider and see which screening is right for you.

Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, it really is. It's a simple and easy test. A lot of people put it off. They're worried about the prep for it and everything. And it really is completely and totally easy to get through it and it really can save your life. Okay, prostate cancer screenings also, there's guidelines that are sometimes confusing. Talk to us about that.

Speaker 2: I'd be happy to. So, prostate cancer screening begins at age 50 for men at average risk. For men at higher risk, such as a family history, screening can begin as early as age 40. One in eight men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime and a simple blood test can be life-saving. Please, again, reach out to your health care provider to see if you should have screening.

Speaker 1: Right, and that is also an easy test. And like you were saying before, any of these cancers, if caught early, can really be preventable. I mean, it can really get on top of it and save your life as well. All right, discuss some of the community health initiatives that are going on down there as well.

Speaker 2: I'd be happy to. So, South County Health is certainly committed to educating the public about colorectal screening, the other screenings that we spoke about. Lung cancer screening we have not spoken about yet. Lung cancer screening is another one that's on the rise. It's actually the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Really? And it does offer an annual low-dose lung CT scan. If you're a smoker, and you're age 50 to 80, or if you have a history of smoking, you should reach out to your health care provider to see if you need lung cancer screening. Right. But some of the other events at South County Hospital, we have free webinars and seminars, such as the Men's Health Screening and the Breast Health Screening. We also have a partnership with the Johnny Kig Center, where we work on community improvement. Right. And everything else can be found on our website at southcounty.org slash events.

Speaker 1: So one of the other things, too, look, I mean, a lot of guys will put off things. You know, guys are like, oh, I'm fine, I'm going to be okay, don't worry about me. I get a little pain, it's going to be okay. But you need to get on it. You can't put things off, because that will only make things worse. God forbid there is something wrong.

Speaker 2: I absolutely agree. And one population that we get concerned with are caregivers. Caregivers are usually caring for somebody else, and they can tend to neglect their own health. Right. I would strongly urge people to see their health care provider, to get some of these simple cancer screenings, because that will help them to be around for the ones they care for. And again, details can be found on our website, or please, I would urge all watchers, all viewers to visit their health care provider to discuss cancer screening.

Speaker 1: Good stuff. Well, thanks so much for being here today. And get on it. Don't put these things off. You can take a look at South County's resources and tips over at Roadshow.com.