Preventative Care in Panama City, FL

Here at Nation's Best Family Health Care we believe in the importance of preventative care and having routine screenings to maintain your overall good health. Early detection can be the key to treating women's cancers and increasing the chances of a full recovery. Our practice offers various cancer screening options so that you can ensure your optimal health.

Those options cover breast, cervical, colorectal and endometrial cancer screening. Each has its own schedule, and the schedule is tied to your age and your family history rather than to how you feel. That is the whole idea of screening: it is done while you are well, on the chance of finding a change at a stage where there is more that can be done about it. Which screenings are due for you is a short conversation at any appointment.

Clinical breast exams are conducted during each exam to search for any changes in your breasts or unusual lumps. We will ask about your family history and if any members have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Annual mammograms begin at the recommended age of 40. It is important that you conduct self-breast exams at home so that you can notice any changes in your breast between visits.

Pap smears are important for finding any changes in your cervical cells, and these tests begin at the age of 21. The HPV test can also be conducted at this time since the HPV virus can lead to cervical cancer. Even if you have been vaccinated against HPV, it is still important that you follow the screening recommendations for your age group.

The screening for colon cancer typically begins at the age of 45, unless otherwise recommended by your doctor. This is accomplished by analyzing a stool sample or by examining the colon and rectum (colonoscopy).

A screening visit starts with history. We ask about your family — whether any members have been diagnosed with breast cancer, and what else runs in your family — because that often decides when a screening should start and how often it is repeated. Then the examination, including a clinical breast exam, and a conversation about which tests belong to your age group.

Some screening happens in the room, some depends on a sample, and some is arranged elsewhere. We explain what each one involves and what happens afterwards before anything is booked.

During menopause, women should report any unexpected vaginal changes such as bleeding or spotting. There are many causes of postmenopausal bleeding that can be benign such as uterine polyps or fibroids. However, uterine cancer, or endometrial cancer, can also cause abnormal changes during menopause. If you notice any changes, please report them to your doctor so that a biopsy can be conducted.