Preventive Care Services

We begin routine screening for cervical cancer beginning at age 21, according with the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists guidelines. If you are over the age of 30 and have never had an abnormal pap smear before, you may not need a pap smear every year. (This does not mean you do not need an annual exam). Ask us about the latest guidelines for cervical cancer screening.
We encourage self-breast awareness- that means being familiar with what your normal breast tissue feels like. This should begin in your twenties- that way as you age, and your risk for breast cancer increases, you will be more likely to identify if something feels abnormal. At Comprehensive Care Center, we teach you proper self breast exam technique and educate you on how to identify concerning lumps and bumps. We also recommend yearly clinical breast exams and mammography every year beginning at age 40, in accordance with the American Cancer Society.
We recommend screening for osteoporosis with a DEXA scan if you are menopausal and have never had a DEXA scan before, if you have a history of osteopenia or osteoporosis and your bone mineral density has not been evaluated in 2 years or more, or if you have other risk factors for decreased bone mineral density. This screening identifies women that are at an increased risk for having a bone fracture.
We recommend routine colonoscopy starting at age 50 for all women, as per the American Cancer Society’s recommendations. If you have a family history of colon cancer, you may need to start screening at an earlier age.