A member asked:

At what age should you be screened for breast cancer or cervical cancer if grandmother and aunt had each at early age in 30s/40s? brca testing?;

10 doctors weighed in across 4 answers

Screening: The pap smear is the standard screening test for cercival dysplasia/cancer. You should have routine pap smears starting when you first became sexually active. Mammograms are effective screening tools especially as women age, they are not effective for younger women with dense breasts. Speak with a genetic councilor about brca testing. Sounds to me like you should be tested.

Answered 11/6/2013

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Dr. Carlos Encarnacion answered

Specializes in Medical Oncology

Risk assessment: Cervical cancer is mostly related to hpv virus, you get your paps as any other woman, starting around 21. You should talk to a genetic counselor to get a good family history and probably get tested for brca and other high risk genes. Even if negative, and depending on the circumstances, you may be considered high risk and be a candidate for enhanced screening or risk reduction manipulations.

Answered 5/11/2015

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Dr. Devon Webster answered

Specializes in Medical Oncology

Different for each: You've had sex, so you should have yearly pap smears to detect cervical cancer. (this is not related to brca.) if your aunt and grandmother are on the same side of your family, and they both had breast cancer, you may meet criteria for brca testing. Genetic counseling is the next step. You don't need mammograms until 40 (unless you have a mutation), but do breast self-exam monthly!

Answered 1/16/2014

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See genetics: Early age breast cancer might signal an inherited gene mutation such as the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, for which screening would begin around the age of 25. See a geneticist to assess risk for an inherited cancer syndrome. Cervical cancer screening begins by age 21. Family history may be a sign of shared environmental or lifestyle factors but inherited risk unlikely; tell your GYN the family history.

Answered 1/14/2018

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