The recent health diagnosis for Catherine, Princess of Wales, is shining a spotlight on the importance for Hoosiers younger than 50 to be screened for certain cancers. The news comes during a time of rising cancer rates among young people.

Mary Robertson, lead in cancer prevention at Indiana University’s Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center in Indianapolis, said family history significantly impacts cancer risk, and stressed the importance of transparent discussions within families.

“Now, for those that do not have insurance, we do have certain programs – specifically in the state of Indiana – that will cover screenings, specifically for breast and cervical cancer at no cost,” she explained. “The primary recommendation would be to talk to your doctor to get referrals for those screenings.”

Robertson added routine screenings with tailored recommendations are advised for people with personal risk factors, including colorectal screenings from age 45 and cervical screenings at 21 for women. Princess Catherine’s diagnosis at age 42 highlights the importance of broader awareness and accessibility to life-saving interventions.

Robertson said the HPV vaccine provides protection against multiple cancers without a need for booster shots.

“We do have a cancer-prevention vaccine, the HPV: Human papillomavirus vaccine. It’s available for those ages nine to 45. It protects you against six different types of cancer. I know I would take every opportunity to prevent cancer, and this is one that is very accessible,” she explained.

Cancer may be an uncomfortable topic to discuss for young people, however, it is important to find and stop the disease as early as possible for the best chance of survival.