Cancer tests recommended for women

• 16/09/2017
• 0

Breast and cervical cancers are the leading because of cancers in women. Women need to be screened for these as well as for other genital tract cancers like cancer ovaries and endometrial cancers.

(1) Cervical cancer: Cervical cancer is an easily detected cancer which can be treated with good survival rates. A simple examination by a gynaecologist can alert one as to whether the look of the
cervix is healthy or not. Moreover all sexually active ladies should be screened for cervical cancer regularly. Cervical cancer screening is done by pap smear. Pap smear is a procedure wherein the cervix is scraped with the help of a brush and spatula and a slide is prepared and examined under a microscope. All women should begin cervical cancer screening at age 21. Women between the ages of 21 and 29 should have a Pap test every 3 years .Women between the ages of 30 and 65 should have both a Pap test and an HPV test every 5 years. Since cervical cancer has a strong association with HPV virus infection, HPV screening is advised These tests reduce the incidence of cervical cancer because they allow abnormal cells to be identified and treated before they become cancer.

Colposcopy is an examination of the cervix where we see the cervix under magnification and certain
solutions are used to identify abnormal areas which can then be biopsied .it can be done after an abnormal pap smear report/ or if the look of cervix is unhealthy in clinical examination.

(2) Breast cancer: A lady should be aware of how her breasts feel like. Although self breast
examination is now not advocated by some , being aware of breasts will help a lady detect anything earlier and seek help of a doctor before it’s too late. For breast cancer screening, a mammography can be done every 2 years starting at the age of 40 yrs till 50 years and then every 2years till 65yrs of age. A mammography is a special type of X ray which can detect a cancer of the breast before it is felt.

(3) Uterine cancer: when you are approaching menopause your periods may become irregular or heavy. Ladies often take it as a natural transition. Although most of the times it is due to hormonal imbalances , sometimes she may be harbouring a cancer of the cervix or cancer of the lining of the uterus(endometrial carcinoma).Sitting on an irregular bleeding can make things go out of control.

You need to go to a doctor who will examine you and will order an internal ultrasound (TransVaginal Sonography) , endometrial biopsy (where the lining of the uterus is scraped off and sent for microscopic examination) with or without a hysteroscopy (here a scope is passed through the vagina which enables the doctor to localise abnormal areas).a biopsy is a blind procedure which can be done better using a hysteroscope.

(4) Ovarian cancer: Screening for ovarian cancer can be done by a clinical examination /transvaginal (internal) ultrasound and a CA125 levels (blood test). CA 125 is found to be raised in other conditions also so a high level does not automatically translate into cancer .Get yourself screened by
a naecologist.