The American Cancer Society (ACS) offers these general screening recommendations for healthy women. If you have certain risk factors or symptoms, work with your doctor, who can create a cancer screening schedule that is right for you. It is important to remember that people of any age can get cancer, but the risk for most cancers increase with age.
The following is advice from ACS on how to watch for common cancers in young and middle-aged women. Since screening tests and exams are the best way to catch cancer early, carefully check to make sure you are getting what you need.
In women, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer other than skin cancer , and it is the second most common cause of cancer deaths (following lung cancer ).
Screening Tests
The ACS recommends the following screening tests for breast cancer:
Thanks to widespread screening with Pap smears , cervical cancer has declined over the past 30 years. This type of cancer is usually found in women aged 50 or younger, but it can occur at any age.
Screening Tests
The ACS recommends the following guidelines for cervical cancer screening:
Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common type of cancer. It has the lowest survival rate of all cancers affecting the female reproductive organs.
During your routine physical exam, your doctor may do a pelvic exam. This involves your doctor feeling your ovaries and uterus for any problems. The ACS recommends that you talk to your doctor about your need for pelvic exams. If you are at high risk for ovarian cancer, there are some screening tests that may be used, such as transvaginal sonography (a type of ultrasound test) and CA-125 blood test (a protein that may be higher in women with ovarian cancer).
Endometrial cancer affects the inner lining of the uterus (called the endometrium).
When you reach the age of menopause (usually around the age of 50), the ACS recommends that you talk to your doctor about the risks and symptoms of endometrial cancer. If you have any symptoms (eg, vaginal bleeding or spotting, pain in the pelvic area, pain during urination or intercourse), tell your doctor right away. If you are at high risk for endometrial cancer, after age 35 you may need to have an endometrial biopsy every year.
Skin cancer is the most frequent kind of cancer in the US. The vast majority of skin cancers consist of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma . Melanoma is a less common type that can be much more deadly.
Screening Tests
During your routine physical exam, your doctor will check your skin. If you have any concerns about a suspicious moles, talk to your doctor. Some symptoms to look for include changes in the shape (eg, uneven shape or ragged edges), color, or texture of a mole. You can also check your skin once a month. Follow these tips for doing a skin self-exam:
Colorectal cancer affects the colon or the rectum, which are parts of the digestive system. This is the third most common cancer in both men and women.
According to the ACS, you should begin screening at age 50. Screening may involve one of the following tests:
While these recommendations are from the ACS, there are many other organizations that provide screening guidelines. The screening tests that your doctor recommends depend on a number of factors, like your age, personal and family medical history, risk factors, and symptoms. You can take an active role in your healthcare by talking to your doctor about the right screening tests for you.
RESOURCES
American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org/
National Cancer Institute
http://www.nci.nih.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
BC Cancer Agency
http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/default.htm/
Canadian Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.ca/
References:
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Last reviewed March 2010 by Brian Randall, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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