By Marcos Otero, Gulf Coast Immediate Care Center
“I want to be tested for cancer. Please do a blood test!”
Women Cancer Preventive Screenings -This request is so prevalent among patients that I hear this request at least 4-6 times every week. Many believe that there is one easy blood test to determine if you have cancer. There is not. Since we celebrate Mother’s Day in May, I decided to discuss screening cancer tests recommended for women once again. We will discuss breast and cervical cancer screenings.
“Why should I do routine recommended screenings?”
Early detection affords a better chance of treatment and possible cure, and extended life expectancy. The recommended ages and frequency have proved to be most effective in reducing cancer-related deaths.
Breast Cancer Screenings – Mammograms
History and Statistics: Mammograms started to be used in the 1960s. Not until 1976 did the American Cancer Society recommend its use.
“About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12.4%) will develop invasive breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. (Only lung cancer kills more women each year.) The chance that a woman will die from breast cancer is about 1 in 39 (about 2.6%).” Source WWW.CANCER.org
Recommended start: Women ages 40 to 54 start annual breast cancer screening with mammograms if they wish to do so.
Recommended Interval: Starting at age 45 and until they turn 54, women should get mammograms every year.
At 55 and older, women should switch to mammograms every two years.
Recommended End – After 75 or if they have a terminal illness with a limited life expectancy, mammogram can be discontinued.
Cervical Cancer – PAP smears.
History and statistics Cervical cancer screening has been available since the middle of the 20th century. The screening has been so effective that cervical cancer dropped from the leading cause of cancer-related death in women down to fourteenth. Testing aims to detect cervical cancer at very early stages and detect precancerous stages. Thus, treatment can start before spread or metastasis occurs.
Recommended start – Pap smears should start at age 21.
Recommended Interval: Between the ages of 21 to 29, PAPS should be done every three years.
From age 30 to 65: every three years for cytology alone or every five years for cytology if tested with HPV.
Recommended End – Discontinuation age recommendation is for women who have had adequate prior negative screenings and are not at high risk for cervical cancer. Adequate previous screening is three consecutive negative cytology results (or two consecutive negative co-testing results) within the past ten years, with the most recent test occurring within the past five years.
The American Cancer Society emphasizes the new screening interval with the statement,
“Women at any age should NOT be screened annually by any screening method.”
Please remember that these recommendations are for screening purposes, not for symptomatic or diagnostic criteria. Therefore, the start and end ages can differ depending on your actual exam.
Future articles will discuss other recommended preventive tests for both sexes and men.
