Cancer Screening(Cervix/ Breast)

Cancer Screening(Cervix/ Breast)

Cancer screening is a normal part of a well-woman’s appointment with your gynecologist. During your visit, your gynecologist can perform a breast exam and Pap smear. These help to test for breast cancer and cervical cancer.

During a breast exam, your gynecologist will feel for lumps or enlarged lymph nodes and check for skin changes that can indicate breast cancer. You should perform regular self-breast exams at home, too, but a professional exam is recommended.

Pap smears check for cervical cancer by testing for abnormal cervical cells. Your gynecologist may also test for HPV, a virus that can cause cervical cancer. Most abnormal Pap smear results are false alarms, so you don’t need to be too concerned. However, your gynecologist may recommend a colposcopy to further check for cancer.