9 life-saving preventive screening tests for the over fifties

Bear in mind that when you go for your annual physical, your doctor may recommend other tests, based on your personal health profile. Here are nine important health checks for individuals over 50 years old.

1. Health Checks

Let's start with the basics. A simple Health Check is the litmus test of understanding your personal health. Quick, easy and convenient, a Health Check tests your blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol and Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a weight assessment, all in one sitting.

Going for quick and simple Health Check can be the greatest investment you make in yours and your family's future health. Not only are these checks fully covered annually for all Discovery Health Medical Scheme members through the existing Screening and Prevention Benefit, when you and the dependents on your plan go for your preventive screening, you automatically unlock additional screening cover through the WELLTH Fund - a once-off, additional risk benefit that offers up to R10 000 per family, for a better understanding of your healthcare needs and the opportunity to address them.

2. Colorectal cancer screening

The Cancer Association of South Africa, pegs colorectal or colon cancer among the top three cancers for both men and women in South Africa. What's more concerning is that according to the Mayo Clinic, many people with colorectal cancer experience no symptoms in its early stages, which makes testing for such cancer vital.

Screening can be done in one of two ways

Faecal occult blood test
This is a simple, non-invasive bowel cancer stool screening test that tests for traces of blood in the faeces and is covered every two years for all Discovery Health Medical Scheme members between the ages of 45 and 75 years of age, up to a maximum of the Discovery Health Rate (DHR), where high risk members will have access to additional colonoscopy screening.

A colonoscopy
This screening procedure last between 30 to 60 minutes. It allows your doctor to look at the inner lining of your large intestine (rectum and colon), by way of a thin, flexible tube called a colonoscopy. This method of testing also helps to find polyps which may become cancerous and can detect cancerous tumours in their early stages, before they spread. This screening is also generally covered by your scheme benefits.

3. Skin and mole checks

Skin cancer is more common in individuals over the age of 50, particularly those who have spent a lot of time in the sun or have a family history of skin cancer. Regular skin cancer screenings enable you to detect any signs of skin cancer early on, and allow for timely treatment.

So why are older adults more susceptible to this disease?
As we age, we undergo many physical changes. Our skin is no different. Changes like thinner skin, poorer healing capabilities, damage from external factors like smoking and pollution, and a weaker immune system, significantly reduce our defence against skin disease and increase our risk for skin cancer (melanoma). During a skin cancer screening, your healthcare provider or dermatologist will closely examine the freckles and moles all over your body, including your scalp and between your fingers and toes in search of any abnormalities.

4. Joint care assessment

It is not uncommon to begin experiencing subtle aches and pains around the 50 mark. Years of wear and tear on the body all add up. Your doctor can assess your aching joints and will help guide you with supplementation and arthritis care solutions that are suited to your level of activity and health.

During a joint care assessment, patients are tested for Osteoarthritis, which is often termed "wear and tear arthritis" of high-traffic joints and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an inflammatory condition where the immune system attacks the tissue lining your joints. Severe RA, if left unchecked can cause complications like narrowed or blocked heart arteries, scarring of the lungs and blood cancers that can shorten a person's life expectancy.

5. Comprehensive eye examination

A comprehensive eye examination can help eye doctors detect signs of certain cancers. The most common forms of cancer that eye doctors are able to detect during routine eye exam are skin cancers, such as melanoma, squamous cell and basal cell. They will also be able to detect early signs of lymphoma and leukaemia, which are known to affect the internal tissues of the eyes.

Fatigue, poor diet and complex health issues like diabetes can affect your vision as you age. It is important to see your eye doctor regularly, and even more so if you are diabetic or have a family history of eye disease, so that should a condition like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) occur, you have the chance of catching it in its early stages before vision loss occurs.

Other age-related eye problems that your eye doctor will test for include
Presbyopia (long-sightedness), glaucoma (an eye condition that damages the optic nerve), dry eyes, age-related macular degeneration (degenerative disease that affects the macular and retina), cataracts and temporal arteritis (inflammation of the blood vessels of the temples that can lead to blindness).

Male specific screening:

6. Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is a malignant tumour that begins in the prostate gland. Certain prostate cancers have a tendency of growing extremely slowly and may not cause symptoms or problems for years, which is why screening tests are vitally important. If it is caught in its early stages, while still confined to the prostate gland, this type of cancer can be cured, while metastatic prostate cancer can be successfully treated, allowing patients to live a reasonably healthy life for several years post diagnosis.

CANSA recommends that men over 50 years, or those who are 40 years and older with a family history of prostate cancer, should go for routine prostate cancer screening.

The two most common ways of detecting prostate cancer are:

• A prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test
• A digital rectal examination (DRE) and subsequent prostate biopsy

Female specific screening

The positive side to women's cancer, is that there is a good chance of recovery if you catch it early. By being aware of changes in your body and by going for regular screenings, especially from the age of 50, you can prevent cancer from sneaking up and have the chance to safeguard your health.

In addition to the routine pelvic examination that is performed by a gynaecologist, women should undergo the following screening:

7. Breast cancer screening

According to the National Cancer Registry, one in 26 women are at risk of developing breast cancer in South Africa. The concern is that most women present with late-stage cancers, making for a difficult prognosis. Mammograms are used to detect breast cancer. During a mammogram, the patient's breasts are compressed between two firm surfaces to spread out the breast tissue. An X-ray then captures images that are displayed on a computer screen and examined for signs of cancer.

Members of a medical scheme administered by Discovery Health, are covered for one mammogram every two years, which is paid for from your Screening and Prevention Benefit. It is important to note that if you are at high risk, you will be eligible for a yearly mammogram and should discuss your screening regimen with your healthcare professional. High-risk members who qualify for an MRI will also have access to this type of screening test.

To find out if you have a higher-than-average risk of developing breast cancer, use Discovery Health's MyBreastCancerRisk calculator

8. Cervical cancer screening

The HPV Information Centre has ranked cervical cancer as the second most frequent cancer among women in South Africa.

A Pap smear is an important part of every woman's health check-up and can detect precancerous cells and cervical cancer. A Pap smear, which is a screening test that is usually performed by your gynaecologist using a speculum and a special swab, is used to detect abnormal tissue before it develops into cancer.

Female members of Discovery Health Medical Scheme have cover for a Pap smear every three years from their Screening and Prevention Benefit, however if you are at high risk of cervical cancer, it is important to speak to your clinician to advise on the appropriate screening test and the frequency of screening.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the underlying cause of most cases of cancer of the cervix, which is why tests for human papillomavirus (HPV) should be done every five years in addition to Pap smears.

9. Ovarian cancer screening

If you're over the age of 55 or have a family history of ovarian cancer, a transvaginal ultrasound, as well as a CA-125 blood test could help to detect this condition early. Chat to your gynae about your personal risk and how and when you should be screening for this sort of cancer.

As we age, our bodies undergo many changes, and while we have no control over such changes, we can lower our risk of developing certain health problems related to them. By keeping up with your regular health checks, you will have a far greater chance of staying healthy, catching any potential problems early on and extending you healthspan (your years spent in good health) as well as your lifespan (the length of your life).