Oct 11, 2021 8:00 AM
Boo! It’s the month of All Hallows’ Eve. I love this time of year. And the Wasatch Range has certainly offered us a spectacular show as it has turned from green to crimson, yellow, and orange. It seems that this is one of the most beautiful autumns I can remember here. The foliage is a brilliant reminder of how beautiful it is to let some things go.
BUT, there is one thing I am asking you not to let go. And that’s your annual cancer screening appointment. Due to the impacts of COVID, many people have postponed cancer screenings such as colonoscopy and mammography. Early detection is truly lifesaving. For example, in June 2021, the Centers for Disease Control announced, “The total number of cancer screening tests received by women through CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program declined by 87% for breast cancer and 84% for cervical cancer during April 2020 as compared with the previous 5-year averages for that month.” This information scares me more than any ghost story I might hear. We know that early diagnosis of cancer promotes better chances for curing cancer.
You are juggling so much right now. From managing hybrid schooling, work, and the usual Halloween hubbub, you’ve got a lot on your plate. We understand. But please also put your health at the very top of your priorities list. We want you to join us for many more Halloweens—when masks will maybe just be used to represent spooky characters once again instead of a necessary part of our lives.
Learn more about our cancer screening guidelines.
Susan Sheehan
President and COO
Huntsman Cancer Foundation
