Important Health Screenings for Women October 29
The commemoration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October has not only been restricted to efforts towards increasing knowledge about breast cancer, but also about other diseases that affect women. While it has been established that breast cancer is not an exclusively female disease, it has long been associated the most with women and is one of the diseases that are largely considered as a woman’s disease.
Cancer is no longer equal to a “death sentence” as survival rates have increased over time. This is one of the fruits of advances in modern medicine as well as proactive and continuous efforts in medical research. One of the key things that most types of cancers have in common is that if the disease is caught in time, the chances of fighting back and ending up victorious are higher. This is why early detection is very important, and the only way to be able to do that is by undergoing appropriate screening procedures.
For breast cancer, it is suggested that women in their 20s and 30s who do not have any known risk factors for the disease undergo a clinical breast exam conducted by a health professional once every three years. Women who are in their 40s and older should consider an annual mammogram.
The pap test is another screening procedure that has the potential to save a woman’s life, this time from cervical cancer. It is a procedure that consists of collecting a sample of cells from a woman’s cervix, which are then tested for the presence of precancerous and cancer cells.
As a woman grows older, another disease that she may be susceptible to is osteoporosis. Women aged 65 years and older are encouraged to take bone density tests to monitor their bones and detect osteoporosis. Women who are even younger may also be asked by physicians to undergo the test if they have risk factors for osteoporosis.
Tags: mammography, pap smear, women cancer tests, women health tests, women screening tests