Preventive Care
By: Wyatt Travis
What diseases do mammograms, pap smears, testicular exams, and prostate exams screen for? What causes the diseases? How can they be prevented? What age should you start being checked and how often?
Pap Smears: Pap smears tell if there is anything wrong with a girls cervix. A girl should get this exam when she turns 21 and should get one every 3 years after that. To prevent pap smears woman should go to their doctor and get the check ups done every 3 years so they can help stop/cure it before its to late.
Testicular Exams: Testicular exams are used to see if men have testicular cancer. Men should do a TSE every month to feel for lumps/bumps. Sometimes they aren't cancer but should still be checked by a doctor. Do the TSE check ups every month and if you feel anything not normal go to your doctor as soon as you can.
Prostate Exams: Prostate exams are used to see if men have prostate cancer. Men need to get checked for prostate cancer at the age of 40. They should continue this until they are 70 years old. Prostate should be checked after 40 and should be done regularly to prevent cancer and you need to pay more attention around the age of 65.
Citations
Mammograms: http://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/mammograms-fact-sheet
Pap Smears: http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/pap-smears.html
How to Perform a Testicular Self-Examination: http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/tse.html
Prostate cancer screening: Should you get a PSA test? http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostate-cancer/in-depth/prostate-cancer/art-20048087