Screening Services at Mount Sinai
Seeing your doctor for an annual physical is a great way to stay on top of your preventive care. Your doctor can perform some screenings (such as blood pressure and cholesterol checks) and prescribe others (such as colonoscopies and mammograms).
If a screening detects a problem, the renowned specialists of the Mount Sinai Health System will draw on the newest science and therapies to personalize the right treatment plan for you.
- Cholesterol: High cholesterol levels can lead to cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke. So it’s important to see your doctor for recommended blood tests to check your cholesterol levels.
- Blood pressure: Detecting high blood pressure early can help prevent conditions including heart disease, eye problems, and chronic kidney disease. Your provider can perform a test with a simple blood pressure cuff right in their office.
- Colon and rectal cancer: There are several options for colorectal cancer screening, including stool-based tests and visual exams, like a colonoscopy. Experts recommend beginning screening at age 45 or 50, so talk with your doctor to find the right schedule and test for you.
- Prostate cancer: After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among U.S. men. Starting at age 50 or 55, men should talk with their doctors about the pros and cons of being screened with a prostate-specific antigen test.
- Lung cancer: Tobacco use causes about 87 percent of lung cancer cases. And lung cancer is the number one cancer killer for men and women. Even smokers who quit have an increased chance of developing lung cancer. Ask your doctor if you’re a candidate for low-dose computed tomography screening.
- Breast cancer: One in eight American women will have breast cancer at some point. Getting regular mammograms (breast x-rays) helps to catch breast cancer even before symptoms appear. Ask your provider when you should start getting mammograms and how often you need one.
- Cervical cancer: This cancer begins in the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus. It usually starts as abnormal cell changes, called precancer. In some women, precancer eventually turns into true cancer. Ask your doctor about cervical cancer screening, which includes Pap tests and HPV tests.
- Skin cancer: Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Types of skin cancer include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Remember each year on your birthday to check your “birthday suit.” If you see anything on your skin changing, growing, or bleeding, see a dermatologist.
As part of the Mount Sinai Health System, the doctors, nurses, and staff of Mount Sinai Cancer work 24/7 to ensure the health and safety of the families and communities we serve. For more information or to make an appointment for your next health screening, please call 800-MD-SINAI.
