Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 27. Am I supposed to get my breast checked at the doctor? I never have before. Is this something that gets done during the annual exam? Am I supposed to ask for it?

Your gyn should do it and you shouldn't have to ask.

I had no idea! Well he just feel on the boobs or will it be one of those machines?

Anonymous wrote:I am 27. Am I supposed to get my breast checked at the doctor? I never have before. Is this something that gets done during the annual exam? Am I supposed to ask for it?

Your gyn should do it and you shouldn't have to ask.

Anonymous wrote:I am 27. Am I supposed to get my breast checked at the doctor? I never have before. Is this something that gets done during the annual exam? Am I supposed to ask for it?

My regular doctor does it during a physical - you shouldn't have to ask. Any chance the PCP thinks it's being done by the OB/GYN and the OB/GYN thinks the regular MD is doing it? Either way I'd mention to one or the other that you've never had such an exam.

I am 27. Am I supposed to get my breast checked at the doctor? I never have before. Is this something that gets done during the annual exam? Am I supposed to ask for it?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pap every year, mom's friend died of ovarian cancer at 26. Not worth the risk. Ever.

Paps do not screen for ovarian cancer.

+1000

There is no current test or screening.

Pap only detects cervical cancer-NOT ovarian. By the time a Gyn feels an ovarian tumor or you have symptoms it is at an advanced state.

My grandmother died at 31 (3 young kids) from ovarian cancer. I try to get sonograms to look at ovaries and end up in a huge fight with insurance/docs over it.

I'm old school, I go every year without fail. And I get my mammogram every year too (I'm 42). I'd be scared not to. I have a friend who wont go because doesnt like them. Good lord...who enjoys a pap smear?

Anonymous wrote:And a mammogram is better than breast exam.... Do it, ladies. Not everything can be felt from the surface.

There is some controversy about this. There is a difference between a clinical exam and a self-exam and I think there are some studies that say a clinical exam is more effective than a mammogram sicne what mammograms are catching are often non-invasive cancers.

But do both. Get a mammogram anyway.

And a mammogram is better than breast exam.... Do it, ladies. Not everything can be felt from the surface.

In terms of checking your own boobs, thats great but a clinical breast exam by a gyn is actually better.

Anonymous wrote:My OB says the new guideline is every three years, but that most people are still coming in every year.

Once every three years is a guideline for paps only. The pelvic exam is still recommended annually.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pap every year, mom's friend died of ovarian cancer at 26. Not worth the risk. Ever.

Paps do not screen for ovarian cancer.

The manual exam done at the GYN appt does detect for changes in the female anatomy. It checks for thickening of the lining of the wall of the vagina and uterus, any bumps or lumps that shouldn't be there. THAT'S what going to the GYN does. Most ovarian cancers are discovered in later stages, but I will not skip my annual visit to the GYN. I can check my boobs for lumps but not my nether regions.

Anonymous wrote:Pap every year, mom's friend died of ovarian cancer at 26. Not worth the risk. Ever.

Paps do not screen for ovarian cancer.

Just saw my OB last week. Used to be every year. She said that his year they are changing their recommendation - they now also routinely screen for HPV in addition to the pap. If pap is normal and HPV negative, then every other year, can go as long as three years. If pap normal, but HPV positive, every year. She said about 50% of US women were HPV positive, but this is the first year I was screened for is, so we'll see.

Every year for pap. Breast exam, etc.

Every 2 or 3 years, now that I'm done having kids.