Cancer Screening for Early Detection of Gynecologic Cancers

Cancer screening helps our San Antonio OBGYNs find and treat the disease at its earliest, most treatable stages. There are several types of gynecologic cancers, including breast, endometrial, ovarian, cervical and vulvar cancer. Our physicians urge patients to come in every year for their annual wellness visits, so that they can receive screening tests and examinations as part of preventive healthcare.

Screening for gynecologic cancers

The only two types of women’s cancer that have specific screening tools are cervical and breast cancer. Our physicians detect signs of endometrial, ovarian and vulvar cancer during annual physicals and pelvic examinations. Scheduling annual wellness visits allows our OBGYNs to keep track of changes in patients’ bodies from year to year, and to perform examinations that might detect cancer before it progresses to later stages. Women should also schedule an appointment any time they notice any changes, signs or symptoms that might indicate cancer or another problem.

What women need to know about screening for cervical cancer

Cervical cancer isn’t all about an annual Pap smear anymore. The guidelines for cancer screening have changed.

Women younger than 21 don’t need screening for cervical cancer.
Women ages 21 to 29 can have only a Pap test every three years, or they can talk to our OBGYNs about having only HPV testing if they are ages 25 to 29.
From ages 30 to 65, women have three options: a Pap test and HPV test, or co-testing, every five years, a Pap test only every three years, or an HPV test only every five years.
Most women ages 65 and over won’t need to be screened for cervical cancer. Patients should talk to our physicians about whether they need to continue with screening.

These are basic guidelines, and there are exceptions. Having a conversation with our San Antonio OBGYNs about your need for cancer screening is crucial for your good health.

Mammograms are a vital part of screening for breast cancer

Our physicians and staff are proud to offer women mammograms in our office. We perform 2D and 3D screening. According to ACOG, or the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, women who have an average risk of getting breast cancer should begin having mammograms at age 40, or no later than age 50. Patients should have screening mammograms every year or two until at least the age of 65.

Women with a high risk of breast cancer should talk to our OBGYNs about how often they should come in for screening, and at what age. Every woman has different needs.

Our San Antonio OBGYNs provide screening and preventive healthcare

Our caring physicians and staff urge women to have regular cancer screening for gynecologic cancers. We have the tools and the expertise to find cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages. Contact us for an appointment.

Hormone Imbalance

Do I have a hormone imbalance?

Hormones are chemical messengers that tell your body what to do and when to do it. Produced in the endocrine glands, hormones travel through your bloodstream to your organs, skin, muscles and other tissue. Hormones control major processes in the body, including metabolism, reproduction, growth and development, and sexual function.

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Types of Screening Mammograms

What Women Should Know About 2D and 3D Screening Mammograms

Let’s face it, you probably won’t ever “enjoy” your annual screening mammograms for breast cancer, but they are critical for early detection. Our San Antonio OBGYNs and staff encourage women with an average risk for breast cancer to start having yearly mammograms at age 40.

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Life After a Hysterectomy

If you need a hysterectomy, it’s normal to have concerns about hysterectomy recovery and what to expect in the months and years ahead. The goal of any hysterectomy is to improve the woman’s health and overall quality of life. Life after a hysterectomy will have some differences, but the biggest change will be improvement of the symptoms or condition that created the need for surgery.

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