Amongst the most important things that you can do for your
health is to go to regular checkups and get preventive screening
tests. These can identify health problems early, when treatment
is more successful. Breast examinations and mammograms: From the
age of 20 onwards, women should perform the self-breast exam at
least once a month. Regular self examination will help you
understand what is normal. Symptoms such as swelling, mass,
dimpling of skin, and discharge from the nipple, should be
immediately reported to your health professional. Breast exams
by the health professional should be done from the age of 20 at
least every three years until the age of 40, and annually after
that. Mammograms should be done once every one or two years
starting at the age of 40. The mammogram produces images of the
inner tissue of the breast to help find out cysts and tumors.
Pelvic exam and the Pap smear test: From the age of 18, or when
sexual activity begins, this examination should be done once a
year. The Pap smear is a