Читать книгу Fundamentals of Cancer Detection, Treatment, and Prevention - Surya K. De - Страница 37

Mammography screening produces an X‐ray image of breast tissue and has been shown to significantly reduce mortality from breast cancer among women aged 40–74, especially those aged 50 or older.

In addition to mammography, physicians recommend all adult women obtain regular clinical breast examinations and perform breast self‐examinations at home, checking for unusual lumps or thicknesses in the breast tissue, or any other unusual breast symptoms. These physical exams have also been proven to reduce breast cancer mortality rates.

Regarding the possible presence of cervical cancer, Pap tests (or Pap smears) and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing decrease the risk of cancer by identifying and treating abnormalities in cells before they become cancerous. Overall, these tests have resulted in decreased deaths from cervical cancer. Testing is generally recommended starting at the age of 21 and continued at regular intervals until a female reaches 65 years, at which time they can be curtailed if recent results have been normal.

For females who have been identified as carrying a harmful mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, indicating an increased risk for breast and other types of cancer, physicians may recommend magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of their breasts.

Mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes also predispose females to ovarian or endometrial cancer, and in cases where these mutations are evidenced, a transvaginal ultrasound is utilized to obtain an image of females' ovaries and/or uterus. The CA‐125 blood test is sometimes used alongside a transvaginal ultrasound for early detection of ovarian cancer, particularly in those having an increased risk of developing this disease. CA‐125 is a cancer antigen, which can be elevated in the presence of ovarian cancer. Furthermore, evidence of someone having an inherited cancer syndrome called Lynch syndrome makes them predisposed to endometrial cancer in particular, along with several other specific cancers.