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While cancer screenings may not be at the top of your to-do list, making time for them could mean the difference in detecting problems early versus a late-stage diagnosis that could’ve been avoided. Whether you are a woman or you love one, cancer prevention should be a priority.
Woman’s Hospital Breast Surgical Oncologist Mindy Bowie, MD, is passionate about educating women about ways they can be proactive in preventing cancer.
“There are four major areas where we can reduce our risk of developing cancer: eating healthy, exercising, limiting alcohol consumption, and not smoking,” said Dr. Bowie. “The simple act of changing small habits in our day-to-day lives can have a tremendous impact in decreasing our risks.”
She also hopes to debunk one of the common misconceptions that you should only be worried about breast cancer if someone in your family has previously been diagnosed. “In fact, 65-70% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no first or second degree family history,” she explains. Those who do have a family history of breast cancer, however, do have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
For those at greater risk, Woman’s Breast Specialists have a high-risk clinic that monitors these patients on an individualized plan developed using their own personal risk factors. This can mean more frequent imaging studies at earlier ages, or it can mean MRIs to get more advanced breast images.
Whether someone is considered high risk or not, regular health screenings for cancer and other common diseases are important for all women. The earlier a problem is detected, the better the chance that treatment will be successful.
Mindy Bowie, MD
Dr. Mindy Bowie is a Breast Surgical Oncologist at Woman’s Hospital. She is certified in Hidden Scar™ breast surgery and has expertise in nipple-sparing mastectomies and oncoplastic breast surgery. She is active in breast cancer research and prevention, and has been published in several breast cancer journals. Learn more about Dr. Bowie and the Woman’s Cancer Pavilion at womans.org/cancerpavilion.
IT’S TIME TO SCHEDULE
Here are some specific screening recommendations and what they are designed to detect. Early detection is the key to treating most illnesses or diseases. Woman’s offers all of these tests with an order from your doctor. Visit Womans.org to learn more.
BEFORE AGE 20:
Pelvic Exam/ Pap Smear Test
Begin at 18, or once sexually active if earlier, and continue annually. Your doctor will look at your pelvic area, both internally and externally, for anything abnormal. During a Pap smear, they will use a swab to gently scrape the inside of your cervix to obtain cells, which will be inspected for signs of cancerous and pre-cancerous changes
Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Screening
Begin once sexually active. STDs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes and HIV can be diagnosed by STD screenings, which can be performed during your annual gynecologic exam. Some STDs do not cause symptoms, so it’s important to get tested.
In Your 20s:
Breast Self-Exam
Begin at 20, then continue once a month … forever. Get to know your body’s baselines. Any unusual symptoms or changes in breast tissue like swelling, dimpling, nipple discharge, persistent pain, redness, unusual masses or any other variation should be reported immediately to your doctor.
Clinical Breast Exam
Begin at 20, then repeat every 3 years until age 40; after age 40, schedule annually. During a clinical breast exam, a health care professional should visually examine you and carefully feel your breasts for any symptoms or warning signs.
Women older than 25 should undergo formal risk assessment for breast cancer to determine if they are high risk.
Cholesterol Screening
Begin at 20, then repeat every 5 years or as often as your doctor recommends. This screening detects high blood cholesterol, which can lead to heart disease. A fasting lipoprotein profile is the most accurate type of cholesterol screening; it measures HDL and LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
In your 40s:
Mammogram (for average risk women)
Begin at 40 and repeat every year. A mammogram can help identify cysts, calcifications and tumors within the breast. It is currently the most effective way to detect early breast cancer.
In your 50s and beyond:
Colon Cancer Screening
Begin at 45 unless you have a family history of colon cancer or polyps. If so, begin having regular screenings at a younger age; ask your doctor which tests you need and how often you should be screened. Adults over age 50 should have a flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years to examine the rectum and lower colon. A colonoscopy may be recommended every 10 years as an alternative. This procedure examines the entire colon. A fecal occult blood test checks for blood in your stool.
Bone Density Exam/ Bone Mass Measurement
Women who have sustained a fracture should begin at age 40; and all women beyond age 65 per doctor recommendation. Low bone density can lead to fractures and osteoporosis. The test is recommended for women who are at increased risk due to certain medications, and for patients with conditions that are associated with bone loss.
Whether you are considered high risk or not, schedule regular health screenings for cancer and other common diseases. Visit woman.org to learn more.
