Most Gynac Cancers can be picked up early, and if so, treatments are easy, and chemo and/or radiation may be prevented..
1) Breast Cancer:
The screening for breast cancer begins at the age of 35 unless you have a family history where it begins early. A Self Breast Examination (SBE) once a month is all you need and once a year check up by a doctor. After the age of 40, once a year sonography or X-ray mamography as indicated should be done.
2) Cervical (mouth of the uterus) Cancer:
This is one of the commonest causes of death in Indian women (1 death every 8 minutes) and is caused by some forms of the HPV virus.
Primary Prevention is the best way. HPV vaccine this is given to children (boys and girls) ideally from the age of 9 to 15 (2 doses) or before the age of 25 years (3 doses). Indian women can take it up to the age of 45 years.
3) Uterine Cancers:
Early detection requires an annual clinical examination, Pap Smear, and a sonography.
4) Ovarian Cancer Screening:
An annual clinical examination, Pap Smear, Sonography, Tumor Markers are extremely useful tools in picking up easy lesions.
For people who have a family history of breast, ovarian, uterine or colon cancer BRAC1, 2 gene testing may also be considered.
Prevention of cervical cancer is by an annual clinical exam, HPV and Pap Smear testing to be done from the time you’re sexually active (after a year) till at the age of 60 years. It is the best way to diagnose Precancer Changes in the Cervix. We are an Advanced Colposcopy Centre, and can further diagnose (by doing a guided biopsy) and treat these precancerous early lesions by simple minimally invasive methods like CryoCauterisation, LLETZ
Dr Sejal Ajmera is a senior gynecologist. She is a visiting consultant at Juhu, Surya Hospital Santacruz, Surya Hospital Juhu, Sujay hospital Santacruz and ex consultant and unit chief at BCJ Hospital & Asha Parekh Research Centre. She is also an ex consultant at NMC Hospital Dubai.
2022 © Dr Sejal Ajmera
