Wednesday, April 17, 2019
At What Age Do Women Need to Undergo Health Screenings?
Lisa Ferrara, MD, internal medicine physician at Bon Secours Medical Group, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), says women should follow these guidelines:
General: Blood pressure, weight, diabetes and cholesterol at annual primary-care visits.
Breast cancer: Age 40-75, annual mammogram; continue based on age, life expectancy and health risks.
Cervical cancer: Age 21-65, pap smears every three years; this can be extended to every five years if combined with a human papilloma virus (HPV) test.
Colon cancer: Begin screening at age 45 or 50, depending on family history. Screenings include colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, stool occult and fecal immunochemical (FIT), and stool DNA (Cologard testing).
Hepatitis C: Once for anyone born between 1945 and 1965.
Lung cancer: Age 55-79, annually, for asymptomatic smokers and former smokers.
Skin cancer: Depends upon skin type and family history.
Do you have a health-related question for a WMCHealth physician or specialist?
Email your questions to [email protected], with “Just the Facts” in the subject heading. Your question may be featured in a future issue.
Visit us at Bon Secours Medical Group, a member of Westchester Medical Center Health Network, to learn more. Advancing Care. Here.