Vitality - Summer 2013 - (Page 6)

BY L AU RIE DAVIES R PHOTOGRAPH BY MARK PETERMAN 1 . Pap Screening ceR Au Yo ms Exa 6 | SUMMER 2013 are eeningst—and, scr Regular d to detec t— designe cases, prevento in some s. From when ten to disease em to how of p you start th hem, we’ll hel ey have t up on these k o brush n’s exams ... n wome ng required! studyi If I’m between 30 and 65, how often should I have a Pap test? A. Annually B. Every three years C. Every ﬁve years Good guess! But the correct answer is C. “There is exciting, science-based news about Pap screening right now,” says D. Shelly Meents, M.D., board-certiﬁed Ob-Gyn with Bolivar OB/GYN. “Long-term trials show that women ages 30 to 65 who get a combination test—a Pap and a screening for human papillomavirus—can wait ﬁve years between Pap tests if both tests are negative,” she says. Other guideline updates: Pap tests should start at age 21, and continue every three years for women ages 21 to 29. Despite a reprieve from annual Pap tests, women should continue to have annual well-woman checks, which can detect thyroid, breast, abdominal or pelvic problems. 2. Mammography To prepare for a mammogram, I should: A. Skip the deodorant B. Wear a two-piece outﬁt C. Schedule it one week after my menstrual cycle D. All of the above That’s right! Your knowledge of mammograms is clear. What’s not as clear is when women should start regular mammograms. The American Cancer Society and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists urge mammography for women ages 40 and older. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends 50 as the starting age. “Interval is also somewhat controversial,” Meents says, noting that some experts recommend annual mammography and others recommend biannual testing. The bottom line? Talk with your doctor about your family history and risk of breast cancer, then personalize the timing. A mammogram cannot prove a suspicious area is cancer, so sometimes follow-up testing is required. Don’t panic! Less than 10 percent of women called back for more tests are given a diagnosis of breast cancer. And, when breast cancer is detected early, it is more treatable. The ﬁve-year survival rate for patients whose breast cancer was discovered in its earliest stage is 93 percent.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vitality - Summer 2013

Vitality - Summer 2013
Contents
CMH News
Health Beat
Ace Your Exams
Sleep Savings
Heart Smart
Q+A
Expanding Care
Calendar of Events

Vitality - Summer 2013