Advanced cancer screening includes a package of individual examinations designed to detect cancer early in a woman.
The procedures
Cervical cancer screening:By law, a cytologic smear test (Pap test) is performed once a year beginning at age 20; beginning in 2018, women will be tested as part of the cancer screening measures (KFEM) as follows.Cervical cancer screening is to occur as follows:
- ≥ 20 years of age: annual palpation examination.
- 20 – 34 years of age: annual Pap smear (cytological examination according to Papanicolaou; cervical smear/cell smear from the cervix).
- ≥ 35 years of age: every 3 years combination examination:
- Test for genital infections with human papillomavirus (HPV).
- Pap smear
Breast cancer screening: this should be done as follows:
- ≥ 30 years; annual inspection (viewing) and palpation of the breast and regional lymph nodes, including the physician’s instructions for self-examination.
- 50-69 years: mammography screening every 2 years.
Colorectal cancer screening
- Eligibility age: from ≥ 55 years, women have the option:
- Every 2 years examination for occult (“hidden”) blood in the stool.
- A maximum of 2 colonoscopies (colonoscopies), at intervals of 10 years.
To ensure optimal cancer prevention, a number of other examinations should be performed to ensure timely therapy and successful cure in case of disease.
These examinations include various ultrasound examinations such as transvaginal ultrasound (synonym: vaginal ultrasound, vaginal sonography) for early detection of cancer of the uterine cavity (corpus carcinoma) and ovarian cancer (ovarian carcinoma) and breast ultrasound (mammasonography) for early detection of breast cancer.
Chlamydia screening: Furthermore, a laboratory test for chlamydia, which is difficult to detect, can be performed. Chlamydia (synonyms: Chlamydia; Chlamydia trachomatis; Chlamydial infection; Chlamydiosis) are bacteria of which the subtype Chlamydia trachomatis can cause various diseases. The chlamydia test is used to ensure fertility (fertility), to protect against premature birth or miscarriage and myocardial infarction (heart attack).
Chlamydia screening is the examination of a urine sample by means of a nucleic acid amplifying test (NAT). In Germany, this is done as part of prenatal care and before interruptions (abortions). Furthermore, since the decision of the G-BA in 2008, every woman under the age of 25 is entitled to one examination per year.
A comprehensive urine examination is also part of cancer screening. For example, blood in the urine is not necessarily visible, but can be an important indicator of bladder, ureter or kidney carcinoma (cancer).
Other screening examinations can be performed as part of preventive health care and may be useful such as bone densitometry (osteodensitometry) as an osteoporosis screening.
Benefits
The various individual examinations performed as part of extended cancer screening will enable you to detect cancer and other diseases at an early stage.
Your chances of recovery increase many times over as a result, and you will feel more confident after this screening.
Advanced cancer screening serves as your all-around protection for a healthy and long life.
