Cancer Screenings

By noennsam
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    Cancer Screenings

  • Clinical Breast Exam (every 3 years starting at 20 until age 40)

    A clinical breast exam is done to test for breat cancer. It is done by a physician, and is simply a physical examination. The breasts are looked at and felt for lumps that may be cancerous. Any changes in breasts need to be shared with the doctor during the exam. A lump or any change may be a sign of cancer.

  • Pap Test (every 3 years starting at 21 until age 29)

    A Pap test is done during a pelvic exam and is used to test for cervical cancer. During the exam, a speculum widens the opening of the vagina to eamine the cervix. A plastic spatula and small brush collect cells from the cervix. The cells are placed in a solution, and are tested for cervical cancer.

  • Pap Test and HPV test (every five years starting at 30 until age 65)

    The pap test, as previosly explained, is perfomed along with an HPV test. The HPV test, Cervista, uses the same cervical cells obtained during a pap test. The Cervista test only tests for HPV in the genetic material. HPV is one of the leading causes of cervical cancer. Doing the tests together allows for multiple results at once.

  • Yearly Mammogram (from 40 years old until death)

    A mammogram is done to test for breast cancer. It is performed by placing the breast tissue on an immovable x-ray slab. An adjustable plastic plate then compresses the breast tissue to make it thinner for the x-ray to get better images. The x-ray images show signs of healthy breast tissues or cancerous ones.

  • Yearly Clinical Breast Exam (starting at 40 until death)

    Tests for breast cancer. Explained at age 20.

  • CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years and a Yearly guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) (from 50 until death)

    The CT colonography is one test that is used to test for colorectal cancer and polyps. This is performed by using a CT machine with low doses of radiation CT scanning to obtain an interior view of the colon. This test for polyps, which are unlikely to become cancer but can. The test allows for early diagnosis and removal of the polyps before they have a chance to become cancerous.