Spring Clean Your Health With Preventive Screenings

As the season changes and to-do lists fill up with decluttering and deep cleaning, one important item is easy to overlook: your health. Christopher Toth, a family medicine physician assistant at GBMC Health Partners Primary Care—Jarrettsville, says spring is the perfect time to schedule a primary care visit and make sure you're up to date on lifesaving preventive screenings. 

"My challenge to everyone is to schedule a primary care visit," Toth said. "Our goal is to be your longitudinal point of contact to discuss comprehensive care and preventative care." 

Toth highlights three key areas patients should discuss with their provider.

• Breast cancer screening is recommended for most women starting at age 40.
• Cervical cancer screening is another important consideration for women's health and can be addressed through a primary care office or an OB-GYN.
• Colorectal cancer screening is recommended for average-risk adults beginning at age 45, though some individuals may need to start earlier. 

"Screenings can be recommended a little bit earlier in some circumstances, for example, a first-degree family relative who has colorectal cancer or a polyp condition," Toth said. 

Patients shouldn't feel they need to arrive at appointments armed with a checklist. Toth describes the process as a two-way dialogue, with providers keeping patients informed as guidelines shift. 

"It's collaborative, a joint decision-making process," he said. "The provider's office, we'll let you know when you're due for a screening or test, but don’t feel apprehensive about advocating for yourself either." 

Recommended screening ages have trended downward in recent years, making that ongoing relationship with a primary care provider especially valuable. Despite the clear benefits, many people delay or avoid screenings altogether. Toth points to a mix of factors: lack of awareness, time passing unnoticed, and real-world barriers like cost and access. 

At a patient-centered medical home like GBMC, the goal is to help patients navigate those obstacles directly. But fear plays a role, too. Whether it's anxiety about a colonoscopy or the discomfort of a mammogram, some patients prefer not to know. 

Toth pushes back, "The truth of the matter is: early detection saves lives." 

If you don't yet have a primary care provider, now is the time to establish that relationship. Visit gbmc.org/mydoctor to find your primary care provider today. For those who already have one, consider picking up the phone this spring and scheduling an appointment, not because something is wrong, but to make sure everything stays right.