“You have cancer.” They’re three words no one wants to hear. And for many people, by the time symptoms appear and a diagnosis is made, the disease has already progressed to a more serious stage. Whether you have a family history of cancer or simply want to be proactive about your health, it’s important to understand your cancer risk.
In October, BayCare launched its Cancer Risk Assessment Program, which uses CancerIQ software to evaluate a patient’s risk for nine types of cancer: breast, colorectal, endometrial, gastric, kidney, lung, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate.
Led by Dr. Peter Blumencranz, medical director of the BayCare Cancer Institute, and Erika Oschmann, an APRN who has worked with oncology patients for nearly a decade, the program is the only one of its kind in West Central Florida—a concept years in the making.
Often, people don’t know they have cancer until they develop symptoms—such as a breast lump or unexplained weight loss—that prompt a doctor’s visit. This program is designed for those who don’t want to wait for symptoms or for the recommended age of routine screenings, such as age 45 for a mammogram or age 45 for a colonoscopy (previously 50). Identifying at-risk individuals earlier allows physicians to begin screenings sooner and detect cancer at more treatable stages.
“What I want to see in the long run is—say you have a graph of stage 1 to stage 4 from left to right—can we move that curve so that over the next five years, instead of finding X number of patients who are already stage 3 or 4, we shift the curve to the left and find more stage 1s and 2s?” Dr. Blumencranz says.
The initial assessment takes only three to five minutes and asks patients about their family cancer history, lifestyle factors such as smoking, and basic information like age, height and weight. It’s also free to complete.
For patients identified as high risk, Oschmann meets with them to create a personalized care plan and screening schedule. Those who want to pursue further evaluation can take a longer assessment, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes—similar to filling out new patient paperwork. And even if you have a negative screening or negative genetic test, that doesn’t mean you’ll never develop cancer.
“We don’t want lack of insurance or lower income to be a barrier, so we offer resources to help,” Oschmann says. For patients who qualify for genetic testing, the team can help secure coverage in 90% to 95% of cases.
As of the first week of December, 450 people had taken the survey over a five-week period. About 100 of those individuals qualified for advanced screening or were considered high risk, and the program has engaged 50–70 of them—including a patient in whom an incidental lung nodule was discovered, despite not having smoked in 20 years.
Screening for cancer is important, but lifestyle choices also play a key role, says Dr. Lary
Robinson, a thoracic surgeon at Moffitt Cancer Center. Obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise, insufficient sleep and stress all contribute to cancer risk. A balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, berries and whole grains, combined with regular exercise and seven to nine hours of sleep a night, can help lower that risk.
“You’re not a ‘prisoner of your genes,’” Robinson says. “You are in charge of your health, whether that is good or bad.”
For those ready to take control of their health, take the survey at BayCare.org/KnowYourRisk to understand your cancer risk and take the first step toward early detection.
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