Preventive check-ups: a priority for 2025

The IntraCare Center oncologist explains that when to have a preventive check-up may vary depending on the type of condition and the patient’s clinical situation.

Santo Domingo. Starting the year healthy should be a priority, and a preventive check-up is a good way to do it, as it can save your life, help prevent disease and, among other things, reduce health costs.  

Dr. Rosa Batista, a clinical oncologist at IntraCare Center, explains that a preventive check-up is simply a medical examination aimed at detecting possible health conditions, where possible, before they cause serious symptoms. These may include laboratory tests and screening studies, among others.  

Batista explains that the main aim of a preventive check-up is to stay healthy and detect any possible condition that could cause a significant clinical event that would harm the patient’s quality of life.  

She encourages people to see their doctor if they have any concerns about a specific health issue for which a preventive check-up could be beneficial.  

She says that when to have a preventive check-up may vary depending on the type of condition and the patient’s clinical situation.  

“Factors such as age, medical history, family history and sex, among others, are conditions that could indicate when it would be advisable to have a preventive medical check-up,” says the specialist.  

Batista says that the factors mentioned above will be taken into account when deciding when the check-up should take place.  

“Talk to your doctor to decide how often to have them, so you don’t overdo it but don’t neglect them either,” says the doctor.  

She considers that the type of test will depend on the preventive care being taken. For example, for breast cancer it might be mammograms, and for prostate cancer a digital rectal examination or a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test is recommended.  

According to the specialist, there are no national statistics on preventive check-ups, but in recent times there has been a proliferation of plans offering comprehensive preventive check-ups.  

Unlike the care you receive when you are ill or when you want to manage a chronic condition, preventive care can help stop you from getting ill in the first place, or detect health problems before they get worse, even before you have symptoms.  

About IntraCare Center  
 

It is a health centre specialising in oncology services, palliative care and outpatient and home chemotherapy, as well as the distribution of cytostatic drugs. Its staff are committed to improving the quality of life of adult and paediatric cancer patients through innovative equipment and technology systems that operate to the highest standards of quality and biosafety.