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Pap smears and mammograms?

Forums General Melanoma Community Pap smears and mammograms?

  • Post
    Jubes
    Participant

      Just wondering that if you are having pet scans every three months if you still have to do the regular Pap smears and mammograms and other screening for other common cancers? I keep getting reminders but it’s hard to get up the energy for more tests thanks

      Anne-Louise 

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    • Replies
        Janner
        Participant

          PET scans catch tumors and metabolic activity 5mm and larger.  Mammograms and pap smears are designed to catch things before they get that large and are specialized for those types of cancers. 

          iskitwo
          Participant

            I asked the same thing at my mammogram and the lady told me yes. These two types of test will catch problems sooner

            jennunicorn
            Participant

              Absolutely what the other posters have said, those tests are both designed as preventative care to catch anything very early if something were to arise. For paps, if you have always had regular paps then you can go every 3 years, you don't have to do those annually anymore if you don't want to. Insurance still covers if you do want to get a pap once a year though. We have to keep up with our regular annual things on top of our melanoma things, extra fun for us women. 🙂

              Prd10
              Participant

                Ugh yes.  My oncologist even recommended that I get a mammogram at 35 instead of 40 bc we are at a higher risk category apparently.  I'm 35 this year so we'll just see when that happens.  I feel like we do to the dr enough!

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