The medical tests you should be getting -- and when

Regular exercise and a wholesome diet are the hallmarks of healthy living. But often overlooked in the quest to keep well is medical screening. Early detection of cancer and other diseases means a greater chance of successful treatment. Here are some to add to your calendar.

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Women

Pap smear: Women are advised to do this screening for cervical cancer and precancerous conditions of the cervix beginning at age 21. It’s done every one to three years, depending on your province’s or territory’s screening guidelines and your health history.

Mammogram: Mammography is the most reliable method of finding breast cancer early, according to the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS).

Women aged 50 to 69 are advised to have a mammogram every two years. Those aged 40 to 49 should talk to their doctor about their risk of breast cancer, along with the benefits and risks of the test.

“We want all women to be going for mammograms at 50, but women in their 40s have to talk to their doctor about their own individual risk and history and whether they should start at an earlier age,” says Robert Nuttall, the CCS’s assistant director of cancer control.

Pelvic exam: This one’s controversial. According to the CCS, a woman usually starts having pelvic exams after she becomes sexually active or turns 21 to screen for certain cancers, pelvic inflammatory disease, fibroids, infections, and other conditions. From there, it’s done every year for two or three years, when her doctor may suggest that having one done every two or three years.

Last year, however, the American College of Physicians concluded that routine pelvic exams in women without any symptoms and at average risk of gynecologic cancer aren’t necessary. They may even do more harm than good, since they’re associated with pain, embarrassment and anxiety.

Bottom line: if symptoms such as vaginal discharge or pelvic pain exist, talk to your doctor.

Skin exam: Women should have their skin examined as part of a yearly health checkup, the CCS suggests. The exam checks for atypical moles that could be a sign of skin cancer. Abnormal moles tend to have an irregular shape with undefined borders or different colours in them. They also tend to be larger than six millimetres in diameter. Other things to look for? A mole raised above the skin with an uneven surface or one that changes, itches, or bleeds.

People who are at higher than average risk of developing skin cancer may need to be examined more often. Some of the factors that contribute to a higher than average risk are a history of skin cancer or a strong family history of melanoma.

Stool test: Women aged 50 and up should have one of these every two years to screen for colorectal cancer. It checks for hidden (occult) blood in the stool. Evidence suggests that the screening and appropriate follow-up can significantly reduce colorectal-cancer deaths.

Among the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer are narrowing of stools; red, bloody bowel movements or black, tarry bowel movements; rectal bleeding between bowel movements; abdominal pain or discomfort; and frequent urinary tract infections.

Men

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test: This screening helps detect prostate cancer by measuring the amount of PSA in the blood. This test has risks and limitations, though, because an increased PSA level does not necessarily indicate prostate cancer. Only about one in four men with an abnormal PSA result will actually have prostate cancer, according to the CCS. The others will have a benign condition, such as prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland) or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Men over the age of 50 should talk to their doctor about their personal risk of developing prostate cancer and the benefits and risks of the test.

Symptoms of prostate cancer include changes in bladder habits, inability to urinate, burning or pain during urination, painful ejaculation, and blood in the urine or semen.

Testicular test: “Men should be checking their testicles,” Nuttall says. “Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer among males aged 15 to 29.” The Canadian Cancer Society released a video called “Nutiquette: a dude’s guide to checking his nuts” to help men learn how to tell when there’s something wrong down there. Symptoms of testicular cancer include pain, lumps and bumps in the testicles and a sense of heaviness in the scrotum.

Men with risk factors such as an undescended testicle, previous testicular cancer, or a family member who has had this cancer should consider monthly self-exams.

Cholesterol test: Men at increased risk of heart disease should start getting regular cholesterol tests at age 20. Men at average risk should start at age 35 and ask their doctor how often screening is recommended.

Stool test: Like women, men should have this done every two years to screen for colorectal cancer once they turn 50. A stool test is something most people would rather avoid, but it could be life-saving. Treatment is most effective before the disease spreads outside of the colon.

Skin exam: Men too should have their skin examined every year for signs of skin cancer. Skin cancer in men often appears on the torso. A melanoma may look like a bruise that isn’t healing, or it may show up as a brown or black streak under a fingernail or toenail.

How often do you get the tests above? Let us know by tweeting @YahooStyleCA.