Screenings 2

3.2.5 Cancer Screenings

  • When Kaitlyn Garms was Born

  • Breast Self Exam

    Breast Self Exam
    The breast self exam is checking for breast cancer and can be done at any age of women and can be done as many times as necessary. However, it is recommended women start doing this at age 18 and perform this once a month.
  • Clinical Breast Exam

    Clinical Breast Exam
    A clinical breast exam is done to check for breast cancer and should be done every three years on women starting at age 20. I should also be done to women every year after age 40. This is a physical examination done by a health professional. The health professional will feel both of the breast and feel for any lumps of abnormalities within the breasts.
  • Pap Smear Testing

    Pap Smear Testing
    A pap smear test is done to screen for cervical cancer. Testing should start at age 21 and should be done every three years until age 30. After age 30, it should be done every 5 years until age 65. After age 65, pap smear tests are not needed anymore if everything is normal. HPV tests should be done every five years from age 30 to 65. A Pap smear is done by the doctor inserting a tool called a speculum into the vagina. Then the doctor will take a spatula to scrape the cells from your cervix.
  • Skin Checks

    Skin Checks
    Skin checks are done to detect skin cancer. It is recommend to be done at 30 and should be done every three months. This is done by checking your skin all over your body for any abnormal moles or spots on your body.
  • Mammograms

    Mammograms
    This screening is for breast cancer and should start at age 40 and should be done yearly. A mammogram is a picture of the breast taken with an X-Ray. One breast at a time will be placed on a flat surface and will be slightly compressed in order to get a clear picture of the breast tissue.
  • Ultrasound for Endometrial Cancer

    Ultrasound for Endometrial Cancer
    An ultrasound is used to detect endometrial cancer. This screening can be done when menopause start which is around age 45 to 55 and should be done yearly. An ultrasound is done by a transducer is placed on the lower part of the abdomen and this tool gives off sound waves which bounce off the organs and create a picture.
  • Colonoscopy

    Colonoscopy
    This screening is used to detect colon cancer. This should start at age 50 and should be done every 10 years. A colonoscopy is done to examine the entire colon. When this is being performed, a doctor will use a colonoscope and view the lining of the large intestines.
  • Sigmoidoscopy

    Sigmoidoscopy
    This screening is used to detect colon cancer. It should start at age 50 and should be performed every 5 years. A sigmoidoscopy is a screening of seeing only the lower part of the colon. A sigmoidoscopy is done by the doctor inserting a tool called a sigmoidoscrope through the rectum and into the sigmoid colon.
  • CT Scan for Lung Cancer

    CT Scan for Lung Cancer
    A CT scan is the best device to detect lung cancer. This should be done between the age of 55 to 74 years old. However, this is only recommened for people who smoke more than 30 packs a year and who have been smoking for more than 15 years. A CT scan is done by a rotating X-ray beam that looks at the different levels of the lungs, and detects any abnormalities.