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The specific time when you should begin being screened regularly for cancer is determined by the specifics of your medical history and family history with cancer. When you begin will also be determined by the type of cancer being screened for. Meeting with your physician and going over your medical history is the only way to be certain when the best time is for you to begin your cancer screening.
Women who have reached 40 years of age should speak to their physician about getting regular breast cancer screening, with those between the ages of 45-54 getting screened annually. After this point it’s typical for screenings to be rolled back to once every two years. Your physician may recommend that you begin being screened earlier than this if:
Screening for cervical cancer generally begins at the age of 21, with the specific method used being determined by age. Cervical cancer is commonly caused by a virus known as HPV, or the Human Papillomavirus. Common methods used to screen for cervical cancer include:
Women who have had their cervix removed for reasons unrelated to cervical cancer, and who have no previous indicators of cervical cancer no longer need to be tested. Women who have received the HPV vaccination should continue to receive pap smears as indicated above.
Screening for other forms of cancer may be done based on your providers discretion or at your request. Regular cancer screenings are an essential part of maintaining life-long health and catching cancer early enough for it to be treated. If you’d like to speak to one of our practitioners about getting screened for cancer, or just want to schedule a regular checkup, call our offices today. Our team works with the local community to provide comprehensive women’s health care services, and are ready to welcome you to our patient family.