April is National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month, a reminder that when it comes to cancer, timing matters. But early detection doesn’t start in a specialty clinic. It starts in primary care—often before symptoms show up or a screening is ordered.
The Overlooked Role of Primary Care in Cancer Prevention
Primary care providers are often the first to spot subtle health changes or patterns that warrant a closer look. Whether it’s monitoring long-term lab trends, following up on persistent symptoms, or recommending age-appropriate screenings, primary care helps lay the foundation for early detection.
In many cases, routine visits are when:
- Bloodwork reveals early signs of anemia, organ stress, or inflammation
- Skin changes or unintentional weight loss are flagged for further evaluation
- Screening schedules for colon, breast, cervical, and prostate cancer are reviewed and ordered by the provider
And just as importantly, primary care is where conversations happen—about family history, lifestyle changes, and risk factors that patients might not know matter.
Managing Chronic Conditions to Lower Cancer Risk
Chronic inflammation, unmanaged diabetes, obesity, and smoking are all linked to higher cancer risk. By helping patients stabilize these conditions, primary care providers reduce the underlying stress on the body that can contribute to cancer over time.
At Complex Care Center, we support our patients with:
- Chronic condition management (including diabetes and high blood pressure)
- Medication reviews and deprescribing when appropriate
- Referrals to imaging and specialty care as needed
- Preventive lab work and evidence-based risk assessments
This whole-person approach means we’re not just waiting for something to go wrong. We’re actively working to keep your system in balance.
What You Can Do to Reduce Cancer Risk
According to the Prevent Cancer Foundation, up to 50% of cancer cases and deaths are preventable with the knowledge we have today. They recommend the following:
- Avoid tobacco use
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Stay physically active
- Eat a balanced, plant-forward diet
- Limit alcohol intake
- Protect your skin from sun exposure
- Get vaccinated (e.g., HPV, Hepatitis B)
- Participate in routine cancer screenings
Screening Guidelines to Know
The American Cancer Society provides guidance on when to begin routine cancer screenings:
- Breast cancer: Annual mammograms for women 45–54; every two years for women 55+
- Cervical cancer: Begin screening at age 25, continue through age 65
- Colorectal cancer: Begin screening at age 45
- Prostate cancer: Discuss screening with your provider around age 50 (or earlier if at higher risk)
- Lung cancer: Annual low-dose CT scan for adults 50–80 with a 20-pack-year smoking history, currently smoking or quit within the past 15 years
Your primary care provider will determine the right screening schedule for you based on your risk factors, personal history, and current guidelines.
How Complex Care Center Supports Proactive Cancer Prevention
At Complex Care Center, we believe cancer prevention is about staying consistently engaged in your health, recognizing patterns early, making intentional lifestyle choices, and addressing small issues before they become bigger concerns. Our model of advanced primary care helps ensure that important signs don’t go unnoticed, and that patients feel supported every step of the way.
We have two board-certified physicians, Dr. David Jones and Dr. Jeff Allgaier, who bring decades of hands-on experience practicing medicine across multiple care settings and patient populations. Whether you’re due for a checkup or looking to play a more proactive role in your health, our team is here to support you.
We’re currently welcoming new patients and continuing to expand, with plans underway for a Spokane location to bring our model of advanced primary care to more communities. Our providers are committed to helping you manage your health with confidence, whether you’re searching for primary care doctors accepting new patients near you or looking for trusted primary care physicians in Richland or the greater Tri-Cities area.
📞 Call 509-713-1315 to schedule an appointment today.
