Don't Postpone Your Annual Screenings

Healthcare is on top of everyone's mind right now — and for good reason. Unfortunately, during COVID-19, many people have delayed seeking medical care and have postponed their annual health screenings.

Sky Ridge Medical Center cares about your and your family's health and safety. Cancer screenings are essential in keeping you healthy. 

Delaying health screenings due to fears of contracting COVID-19 can cause more harm than good. A cancer screening can catch cancer in its earliest stages when it is easier to treat.

Mammograms Matter

Breast cancer is most common in women but can also affect men. Often, breast cancer is detected through a lump in the breast or a noticeable change in the size, shape, or skin of a breast. Mammograms are crucial for the diagnosis and early detection of breast cancer.

Early detection is vital when it comes to breast cancer. Women should schedule their first screening at age 40 to 44 and receive annual mammograms through age 54. Women 55 and older can continue yearly screenings or switch to every other year if they choose.

Call (720) 493-3700 to schedule a mammogram.

No Butts About It… Schedule your Colonoscopy

Colon cancer is up to 90 percent curable if detected early. A colonoscopy is a screening measure that identifies potential polyps.

"You know your body better than anybody else. So, when you feel something is not right, step up and advocate for yourself," says Melissa Shields, Director of Oncology at Sky Ridge Medical Center. "We don't want to lose any more people to this horrible disease."

Report any of the following symptoms to a healthcare professional:

• A change in bowel habits. "If there's any change in what your stool looks like — if there's blood in it, if it's dark — or if you're going more or less frequently, get it checked out," Shields says.
• Abdominal or back pain, especially pain that recurs or doesn't go away after a day or so.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Weakness or fatigue.

"Anything that is abnormal, that doesn't make sense to you, or that you feel is wrong — push for your doctor to dig a little bit deeper," Shields says.

Sky Ridge Medical Center has made it easier for you and your busy schedule by offering Colonoscopy Saturdays. Call (720) 225-1104 for a brief screening assessment or to RSVP.

Sky Ridge is Here for You

Sky Ridge Medical Center is here for you and your family... close to home. If it's time to schedule your regular cancer screenings, like a mammogram, colonoscopy, or prostate exam — and especially if you have any concerning symptoms — don't delay getting the care you need.