Just like an unplanned pregnancy, cancer is a terrifying and still quite unknown disease that is affecting more and more people every day. Many individuals do not think they will be affected by cancer, especially young people. However, cancer patients are of all ages and it can affect nearly any body part. Planned Parenthood clinics are now offering screenings for common cancers, including breast and cervical for women, and prostate for men. All of these cancers are becoming more and more prevalent, and a routine screening can help catch the disease early so that a person who is affected can receive treatment and continue to live a long and healthy life.

Breast cancer screening starts at home; women must perform a self breast exam at least once per month to check for new or changing lumps. Finding a lump while it is new can help to catch cancer before it spreads to the nodes. In this situation, many women simply have to have a lumpectomy to remove the infected tissue but are able to keep most of their own breast tissue. However, if it spreads, full removal of the breasts and/or chemotherapy may be necessary to remove all of the cancer. Cervical cancer is often a result of HPV, which is a sexually transmitted disease. There are treatment options available, but can cause sterility for women in the future. Prostate cancer can often have symptoms in the early stage, and if it is caught early it can be treated through hormone therapy, drugs, or surgical procedures. Men who are over 40 are more likely to be affected, but men of any age should not hesitate to begin their routine screening process. Yearly cancer screenings are crucial, and Planned Parenthood clinics offer them to any patient regardless if they are covered by health insurance. Many clinics offer the services at a discounted rate based on income, so virtually everyone can obtain these necessary cancer screenings at an affordable price.