The disease screening experts recommend at every age to catch cancer early like Princess Kate

England’s Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, sadly announced her cancer diagnosis last week.

Although the stage of his disease has not been officially confirmed, it appears that the cancer was detected in early stages as he is receiving “preventive chemotherapy.”

If tumors have advanced to other areas of the body, more aggressive types of chemotherapy are traditionally given to kill any remaining cancer cells.

Kate Middleton also said in her public speech that she feels “fine” and has assured her three young children that “it’s going to be fine.”

The case of the young royal highlights how important regular screening for diseases can be.

And not just for cancer: Doctors recommend a series of preventive tests for every stage of life to avoid the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other conditions.

Regular screenings at a young enough age could have a big impact on outcomes for all diseases, said Dr. Robert Biernbaum, medical director of Wellnow Urgent Care. CBS News Health Watch .

‘Instead of seeing end-stage breast cancer, end-stage colon cancer, we would detect them at a younger age and they would have a better outcome. So prevention is the key to being healthy,’ he stated.

Below we present the essential tests that you should perform at each stage of life.

In your 20s, get an early discussion about your sexual health

In your 20s, you should focus on screening tests that will help you understand your risks of developing diseases in the future, said Dr. Nadia Javaid, a family physician. State Health Benefits Plan.

This includes getting regular tests for sexually transmitted infections, diabetes screenings, and cholesterol tests.

At this point in your life, there are still many lifestyle adjustments you can make that will help you avoid future illnesses, Javaid said. If he knows he is at greater risk, he is more likely to take action.

For example, let’s say you get an STI test and find out that you have human papillomavirus. There are immediate surgical measures you can take that will help prevent cancer from developing later in life. According to the WHO.

Diabetes screening should also begin at this age due to the increase in obesity in the United States, Biernbaum said.

If you know you have a higher risk of developing diabetes in your twenties, you can start practicing new habitssuch as consuming less sugar and exercising more regularly, to reduce the possibility of developing the disease.

You should also continue the screening habits you may have already developed, visiting a dentist, dermatologist, and ophthalmologist. Specifically, you should visit a dentist twice a year for an examination of your teeth and gums, depending on the American Dental Association.

Finally, Biernbaum recommends consulting with a mental health professional at this age, especially if you haven’t already. “Actually, screening should start at age 12 and should be continued every year for a person’s life,” she said.

From this age onwards, doctors continue to recommend STI screening, mental health, and oral, skin, and eye care throughout life. according to CBS news.

In your 30s, keep an eye out for funny moles

At thirty, the American Heart Association recommends starting to take care of your heart health. To do this, blood pressure must be monitored every two yearsand your cholesterol control every four years.

Plus, at this point in your life, you’ve probably been exposed to enough sun to have developed some strange-looking moles, which could be cancerous. He Skin cancer foundation recommends getting an annual dermatology exam to make sure your freckles are just freckles.

If you’ve been lucky enough to not need glasses or contact lenses up to this point, you may have never walked through the door of an optometrist.

But the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends getting an exam at least twice in your thirties, to make sure there are no problems hiding behind your eyes.

Doctors also recommend being vigilant about your sexual health and making sure you get screened for cervical and testicular cancer. “Unfortunately, we know that there is an increased risk of testicular cancer in people between the ages of 20 and 30,” said Dr. Steven Lamm of NYU Langone. he told CBS News.

At 40, prepare for a colon exam

He US Centers for Disease ControlI recommend that you start having regular colorectal exams starting at age 45.

Fortunately, not all of these tests require you to undergo an uncomfortable colonoscopy, as there are now over-the-counter tests that work well, Biernbaum said.

At 40 years old, the doctors at American College of Radiology We also recommend that women have their first mammogram, if they have not already had one. From there, the ACR recommends that women get tested every two years to stay aware of possible breast cancer.

Additionally, women should talk to their doctor about menopause symptoms at their annual visit starting at this age. Perimenopause, the initial stage of “changing,” can last up to ten years and usually begins around age 40, Dr. Jessica Shepard. he told CBS News.

At this stage, you should be sure to continue monitoring your heart health and diabetes risk as your cardiovascular system continues to age. the AHA recommends.

At 50, be careful with your lung health

Once you reach this decade, doctors recommend getting screened for lung cancer. This new guideline American Cancer Society establishes that if you are a habitual smoker, then you must repeat these exams annually.

From the age of 55, the US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that men start considering a prostate exam. They should talk to their doctor about the likelihood of developing prostate cancer and then decide How often They should be screened for the disease.

The other range of tests, from sexual health to dental checkups, are still recommended, and Dr. Céline Gounder told CBS that getting them done now could save your future health. Even at 50 years old.

‘If you are still a smoker, stop smoking. “If you don’t do any exercise, even if you walk a little every day, or take the stairs instead of the elevator, very small things can really make a big difference to your health,” he said.

At 60, be considerate of your bones

At this stage, most women will have gone through menopause, which can cause large changes in bone density. As such, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recommends that women age 65 and older take Bone density tests.

Although women are at particular risk for conditions related to bone density, such as osteoporosis, men may also want to undergo similar tests at this age, the office says. Performing this type of test, which usually only involves an x-ray, can give you an idea of ​​whether you are at increased risk of developing a bone fracture.

As men enter this decade, they may be at higher risk of blood clots, especially if they were smokers. So if you are a 65 year old smoker, the USPSTF recommends abdominal aortic aneurysm testing scan.

These tests check that the large blood vessels that carry blood to the body are not blocked.

It is also important to continue lung, colorectal, prostate, and breast exams during this age, along with regular maintenance such as skin, mouth, and eye exams.