Women are traditionally the care takers, and in that role sometimes can neglect the most important person — themselves. But as flight attendants caution, you have to put on your own oxygen mask before you help those around you. The same goes for your health. While experts advise some cancer screenings for everyone, some are specific to women. Here is what women need to know about how take care of themselves with regular screenings.

Breast Cancer Screening

What should women know about breast cancer?

Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the U.S. (The most common one is skin cancer.) Breast cancer is also the second-highest cause of cancer deaths among women after lung cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

What does breast cancer screening look like?

A typical breast cancer screening mammogram uses an X-ray to take pictures of the breast from two angles. This allows a medical professional to look for potential signs of breast cancer in the breast tissue.

During a mammogram, you place your breast on a platform. The machine then squeezes your breast for a few seconds for each picture. It can be a little uncomfortable, but it doesn't last long. The entire process takes about 20 minutes.

If a woman tells her doctor she has experienced changes to her breast, the doctor may perform a diagnostic mammogram. It involves the same procedure as a screening mammogram but includes additional images.

A breast ultrasound may be used to explore any identified changes or lumps. Doctors may also recommend an ultrasound for women with dense breast tissue.

When should women be screened for breast cancer?

The following organizations recommend annual mammograms beginning at age 40 for patients at average risk of developing breast cancer:

  • American College of Radiology
  • American Society of Breast Surgeons
  • Society of Breast Imaging
  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Some women may be surprised to learn that screening frequency decreases with age. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, although breast cancer is more common in older women after menopause, it usually grows more slowly. This means it can still be caught early even with less frequent testing. Second, breast cancer is easier to detect early in older women because the breast tissue becomes less dense after menopause.

Cervical Cancer Screening

What should women know about cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is most commonly found in women between the ages of 35 and 44. However, more than 20% of cases occur in women over 65, according to the American Cancer Association. Cervical cancer rarely occurs in women who've had regular screenings because the test is so effective at finding pre-cancerous cells.

What does cervical cancer screening look like?

There are two parts to this internal screening — the pelvic exam and the Pap smear. During a pelvic exam, the doctor checks your ovaries and uterus for any lumps. During a Pap smear, the doctor collects cells from the cervix to screen for abnormalities.

A doctor will also do an HPV test along with a Pap test. That's because the most important risk factor for developing cervical cancer is HPV infection. You should have this screening even if you have received a vaccination against HPV. The vaccine does not prevent all of the types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer.

If the Pap test comes back with abnormalities, the doctor will refer you for a colposcopy. In this procedure, your doctor will use a magnifying instrument called a colposcope. That makes to easier to more clearly see the surface of the cervix to identify potential areas to biopsy.

When should women be screened for cervical cancer?

Note that these guidelines apply to women who have never been diagnosed with cervical cancer or cervical pre-cancer. If you have been, talk to your doctor about appropriate screening protocol.

  • At age 21, women should begin cervical screenings.
  • Between the ages of 21 and 29, women should have a Pap test every three years.
  • Starting at age 30, women who have had normal results should receive a co-screen with a Pap test and HPV test every five years. That should continue until age 65.
  • At age 65, women who have had regular screenings over the past 10 years with normal results should stop cervical cancer screening. If you have had an irregular screening in the past decade, talk to your doctor about the proper protocol.
  • Women who have had a total hysterectomy may stop screening—unless the hysterectomy was to treat cervical pre-cancer or cancer. However, women who have had a hysterectomy without the removal of the cervix should follow the guidelines above.

Ovarian cancer

There are no screening tests for ovarian cancer that are recommended for all women. However, your doctor may want you to get screening test if you are in a high-risk group. Women are at high risk if they have an inherited genetic syndrome, like Lynch syndrome, or BRCA gene mutations. Another factor is a strong family history of ovarian cancer — your mother, sister, or daughter has or has had ovarian cancer. Your doctor can help you decide if ovarian cancer screening is right for you.

It's important to see your doctor for regular breast and cervical cancer screenings as outlined above. And never hesitate to check out additional symptoms that might be causing concern.