A new year is the perfect time to take care of your annual physical exam and cancer screenings.

As part of our commitment to fighting the battle against cancer, on the 7th day of every month we bring you life saving information in our Health Check 7 report.

Erin Zastrow with the American Cancer Society in Wausau, says catching cancer in it's earliest and most treatable form can help prevent it and possibly save your life.

"A lot of people hesitate to get their screenings, maybe because they don't want to know or they aren't experiencing symptoms so they think it won't happen to them, but that's the prime time to get into your doctor when you don't have symptoms, so they can catch it early and take care of the cancer. "

They recommend men and women begin screening for cancer in their 20's.

Zastrow says in your 20's doctors will screen your Thyroid Gland, mouth, skin and lymph nodes.

In women they will also check the ovaries and the testicles for men.

Women over 40 need to be have regular mammograms and a colon cancer screening at age 50.

For men they recommend testing the prostate and colon at age 50.

Zastrow says certain life style factors like smoking can also increase your risk for cancer.

"Don't smoke, exercise 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains nuts poultry fish and low fat dairy products."

They also recommend limiting the amount of red meat, processed meat and alcohol.

Click on the link below for more information from the American Cancer Society.