BY ANNIE HOLLER
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Every 30 seconds, someone in the United States hears the words no patient wants to hear: You have cancer.

It remains the nation’s second leading cause of death, behind heart disease. Nearly 40.5% of Americans will receive a cancer diagnosis at some point in their lives, according to the National Cancer Institute. Globally, cancer accounts for roughly one in six deaths.

February is National Cancer Prevention Month — a designation that serves as both a reminder and warning in places like Eastern Kentucky, where cancer rates rank among the highest in the country.

For Dr. Lon Lafferty of Inez, the statistics are not abstractions. They are faces and families. Over four decades of practice across Eastern Kentucky and Southern West Virginia, he has watched the difference that timing makes.

“Routine health screenings can save your life,” Lafferty said. “Early detection is the key. The earlier the cancer is confirmed and a proper diagnosis is made, the sooner referrals can be made to specialists, including oncologists and surgeons, so that a treatment plan can be established. Time is not our friend when we are dealing with cancer. The longer a patient goes without being diagnosed or beginning treatment, the less chance they have of beating the disease and making a full recovery, especially in those types that are more aggressive.”

Medical advances have improved survival rates, but prevention and vigilance remain the most powerful tools.

For women that often begins at 40 with annual mammograms, earlier if there is a family history or a lump is found. Pap smears, which detect precancerous cervical cells, typically begin at 21 and continue until about 65, depending on individual risk.

For men, prostate cancer screening through a prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, blood test is generally recommended beginning at 50. However, earlier testing may be warranted for those with a family history or other concerns. Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States, affecting roughly one in eight during their lifetime.

Colorectal cancer, the nation’s third leading cause of cancer-related death, is increasingly diagnosed at younger ages. Lafferty recommends screening for men and women ages 45-75. Colonoscopy remains the gold standard, allowing physicians not only to view the colon and rectum but to remove polyps or abnormal tissue before cancer develops. Stool-based tests and CT imaging provide alternative screening methods.

For longtime smokers, lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan can be lifesaving. The recommendation applies to adults ages 50 to 80 with a significant smoking history — those who currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.

Routine blood work, often conducted during regular checkups, can also signal underlying problems. Physicians monitor hemoglobin levels, blood sugar (via A1C testing), liver enzymes, kidney function, triglycerides and cholesterol. Blood pressure, exercise, weight control and diet form the foundation of prevention.

Interest in genetic testing has grown sharply over the past decade, particularly among patients with immediate family members who have had cancer. These tests look for inherited DNA changes associated with higher risks for cancers including breast, ovarian, uterine and melanoma. Insurance coverage varies, and eligibility typically depends on personal or family history, early-onset diagnoses, rare cancers or known hereditary syndromes.

In Eastern Kentucky, where environmental factors compound risk, the urgency is unmistakable.

“Eastern Kentucky has one of the highest cancer rates in the country,” Lafferty said. “With that being said, the need to stay on top of annual screenings and not neglect your health is of the utmost importance. Early detection truly can mean the difference between life and death.”