Essential screenings every woman needs

It’s common knowledge that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But the next best thing to preventing illness is catching it early, when it’s easier to treat. This is why your providers want you to get a variety of health screenings in your adult life.

But what screenings do women really need, and when?

Many basic health screenings are important for all adults: blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, skin cancer and colorectal cancer, to name a few. Women should add several additional health screenings to their to-do lists:

• Breast cancer – both mammograms and clinical breast exams are important for detecting potential problems.
• Osteoporosis – This bone density screening is especially important for postmenopausal women.
• Cervical cancer – Pap smears are used to detect both cancer and precancerous changes to the cervix.
• Pelvic exams – These exams enable providers to detect ovarian cysts, precancerous growths and other health issues in the reproductive organs.

Family medicine Nurse Practitioner Nicole Rose, Beacon Medical Group Mishawaka Primary Plus, is accepting new patients. Schedule online today.

The first step in determining which screenings you need, and how often, is seeing your primary care provider regularly. They’ll talk with you and use their knowledge of your health to make recommendations. We spoke with family medicine Nurse Practitioner Nicole Rose from Beacon Medical Group Mishawaka Primary Plus to learn more.

Your personal and family histories are key.

“Past personal and family history is important, as this usually drives the frequency of screening,” explains Nicole. For women, this includes things like a history of breast, cervical or ovarian cancer in you or a relative. “It’s also helpful to know about any previous surgeries, such as hysterectomies or breast augmentation, as this can impact the types of screening needed.”

Share your symptoms, if any.

“It’s important to mention any current symptoms that may be related” to common health screenings like breast cancer, lung cancer or colorectal cancer. “If you aren’t sure if the symptoms are related, tell us and we can work together to figure things out,” says Nicole.

Let your provider know if you’ve had negative experiences.

“The exams in the office are not usually painful, but they can be a little uncomfortable,” Nicole says. “If there is any history of trauma, sexual abuse or poor prior experiences with these types of exams, that would be a good thing to discuss with your provider so we can make sure we are being sensitive to your needs! We’re here to help.”

Screenings are for YOU.

“I know sometimes these screenings can be uncomfortable and intimidating. If you’re nervous about the screening, please don’t hesitate to talk with your provider,” Nicole suggests. “We want you to get your screenings, and we want them to be as comfortable as possible so you can keep living your best life, worry free.”

Here for you

No matter your age or medical needs, Beacon primary care doctors are ready to help. Need to find a provider and schedule online? Visit https://beacon.health/4jsZl73