Don’t panic over a callback When a screening pinpoints an abnormality, patients are called back for additional testing. Dr. Hale reassures patients that “the majority of the time, the irregularity is not cancerous. It’s easy for your mind to go to a bad place, but the reality is that abnormalities tend to be incidental and harmless.” He stresses, however, that it’s important to show up for the follow-up testing: “Nailing it down is good because then it’s in your library of known abnormalities, which helps inform future screenings.” Regular primary care check-ins are key As the first line of defense against cancer, Dr. Hale strongly advocates establishing a trusting relationship with a primary care provider. This is the person, he explains, best equipped to “identify, mitigate, or eliminate cancer risks over time.” Regular check-ins and screenings are vital, even for healthy patients. “Cancers can occur sporadically,” says Dr. Hale. “Don’t be afraid to get tested. Detecting a problem early can make the treatments a lot easier and may save your life.” Intercepting cancer Kettering Health and the Cincinnati Bengals are partnering to intercept cancer. The NFL’s Crucial Catch mission is to fight cancer through early detection and risk reduction. Kettering Health is committed to providing people the tools they need to help them better understand detection and ways to reduce their cancer risk. Find more information about Crucial Catch at ketteringhealth.org/crucialcatch ketteringhealth.org 7
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