The ScreenMe blog
Short reads on cancer screening, risk and prevention.
ScreeningWhy cancer screening mattersFinding cancer before symptoms start gives the best chance of cure.CervicalPap smear and HPV test: what to expectHow the tests are done, how to prepare, and what a positive HPV result means.ColorectalColorectal screening tests explained, and how to prepareColonoscopy, stool tests and the other options: how they work and what preparation they need.BreastWhen should I start having mammograms?Why guidelines have disagreed about starting at 40, and where they stand now.BreastHow to do a breast self-exam, step by stepA simple monthly routine to get to know your breasts, with a checklist.BreastKnowing your breasts: self-exam and breast awarenessBreast self-exam is not a screening test, but knowing what is normal for you helps you notice changes early.SkinChecking your skin: the ABCDE ruleHow to check your moles at home, and when to have a spot looked at.Men’s healthTesticular self-examWhat to look and feel for, and why some asymmetry is normal.BreastPeriods, pregnancy, the pill and cancer riskHow your reproductive history relates to the risk of breast and colorectal cancer.Women’s healthMenopause and hormone therapyWhat menopause is, its symptoms, and how they can be managed.CervicalHPV: the vaccine, tests and other infectionsWhy the HPV vaccine matters, why screening is still needed, and how other infections play a role.RiskFamily history, ancestry and hereditary cancerHaving relatives with cancer doesn’t always mean it runs in the family.RiskWhen screening starts earlier: radiotherapy and bowel diseaseSome people need bowel screening earlier, or more often, than the general guidelines say.LifestyleAlcohol, diet, exercise and stressEveryday habits that affect your cancer risk, and what the numbers mean.