Cancer Screening

Cancer screening is available for breast, cervical and hereditary cancer

Our Southlake and Fort Worth obgyns provide different types of cancer screening. Screening is a critical tool because it can help detect cancer in the early stages when it is easiest to treat.

Cancer screening for breast cancer includes breast exams and mammograms

As part of routine cancer screening for breast cancer, our physicians perform a clinical breast exam during the annual well woman exam. During this exam, our Southlake and Fort Worth obgyns check the breasts for lumps and changes, including dimpling, puckering and discharge from the nipples.

In addition, women are urged to have annual mammograms when they turn 40. Younger women who have certain risk factors may need mammograms earlier.

The Pap smear is the screening test for cervical cancer

The Pap smear is still used for cancer screening for cervical cancer, but it is no longer performed on an annual basis. Current recommendations favor co-testing. Co-testing involves performing a Pap test and an HPV test. The Pap smear results indicate whether abnormal cells are present. The HPV test indicates whether common types of HPV are in the sample. Here are the new Pap guidelines for cancer screening.

Women between the ages of 21 and 29 only receive a Pap test every three years.
Women between the ages of 30 and 65 receive a Pap test and HPV test every five years. Co-testing is recommended, but women in this age group can also opt to have only a Pap test every three years.

Screening is available for hereditary cancers

Cancer screening for hereditary cancers is a genetic screening test that determines whether a patient has the genetic mutations that may increase their risk of certain cancers.

If the screening indicates that a patient has mutations in her BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 genes, it means that she has a higher risk of developing breast cancer than the average American woman. These mutations also increase her risk of developing cancer of the ovaries, peritoneum, Fallopian tubes, pancreas and skin. However, it does not mean that she will definitely develop cancer.

Genetic cancer screening is also available for Lynch syndrome. This condition increases a woman’s risk of developing uterine, breast, ovarian, colorectal and other cancers.

Our Southlake and Fort Worth obgyns discuss the need for genetic testing with each patient because these tests are not necessary for every woman.