As we get older, most of us start paying closer attention to our health. Yet one of the most important steps we can take is also one of the easiest to put off: staying current on recommended cancer screenings.

Colorectal cancer screening is recommended starting at age 45 for most adults, but too many Pennsylvanians are still putting it off. In fact, more than one in four screening-eligible Pennsylvanians are not up to date on their recommended colorectal cancer screening. That’s an unfortunate statistic, because survival rates for the disease increase exponentially when caught early through screening.

Colonoscopy remains the gold standard, but there are more options than ever — like the Shield test by Guardant Health, the leading blood test for colon cancer detection and the first to receive FDA approval for adults aged 45 and older at average risk, which can be completed with a quick and easy blood draw during a routine doctor's visit.

I know how tempting it is to assume that feeling healthy means there's nothing to worry about. Screening is how we stay ahead of a disease that often develops without any warning signs.

At the end of the day, the best screening test is the one that gets done. Talk with your doctor about which option makes sense for you, and make screening a regular part of taking care of yourself as you age.

Jeff Smith,

Butler