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"For You A more accurate Pap The standard Pap test misses up to 30 percent of abnormapties. But the new HPV test, which checks a Pap sample for the actual virus that causes cervical cancer, boosts accuracy to 99 percent.  What you should know: The HPV test is usually recommended for women over 30, says Diane Solomon, M.D., of the National Cancer Institute. What can younger patients do? Make sure that their doctor uses a pquid-based test. These pquid Paps (sometimes referred to by their brand names, Thin Prep and Sure Path) are 15 percent more accurate than the older, conventional &amp;quot;dry&amp;quot; smear. How often? After three annual HPV tests with normal results, women should be retested every three years. Cost: $50 to $200 on top of the standard Pap fee; some insurance companies cover. The most repable mammogram There has been an explosion in breast cancer detection technology. But for women at normal risk, no new test has been shown to increase detection rates any better than an &amp;quot;old-fashioned&amp;quot; film mammogram.  What you should know: One thing that does make a difference: having regular mammograms, if possible at the same facility each time. &amp;quot;That way, the radiologist can easily pull up your records, make comparisons and detect any worrisome changes,&amp;quot; says Joann G. Elmore, M.D., of the University of Washington School of Medicine. (If you switch centers, bring your old films with you.) For women at higher risk of breast cancer, an ultrasound or MRI may also be recommended. How often? Once every one to two years starting in your 40s. But many doctors believe that all women over 40 should have a yearly screen. Cost: $125; covered by most insurance companies. Next page: Lifesaving Tests for Him Updated prostate cancer test The prostate specific antigen test has long been criticized for yielding too many false positives, which then need to be checked out via a surgical biopsy. But new research suggests that it&amp;#039;s easy to make this blood test more accurate: Measure something called free-PSA (prostate cells that are not attached to proteins) in addition to total PSA. The lower the free-PSA, the higher the likelihood of cancer -- and the need for a biopsy. What you should know: Numbers have changed too. In the past, a PSA score of 4 or above was the signal for further testing. But that detected only about 80 percent of cancers. If you factor in a man&amp;#039;s age, you up the accuracy to as high as 93 percent, says Shandra S. Wilson, M.D., of the University of Colorado Anschutz Cancer Center. The new numbers: For men in their 40s and 50s, a PSA above 2.5 is considered abnormal; for men in their 60s, above 3.5; for men 70 and older, above 4.5. And for men of any age, a rising PSA score indicates a potential problem. How often? Yearly for men over 50. Cost: $135; covered by insurance. Ultrasound to detect deadly artery risk Every year, some 9,000 Americans (the vast majority of them men) die of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The wall of an artery that runs through the abdomen has weakened, forming a bulge; if the bulge ruptures, it causes massive internal bleeding. Now, new guidelines recommend a onetime ultrasound screen for an AAA. What you should know: The test is advised for men between 65 and 75 who&amp;#039;ve smoked more than five packs of cigarettes in their lifetime. If the bulge reaches 2.5 inches or more, or if there are other signs of possible rupture, the artery wall may need to be repaired. Surgery performed before an aneurysm bursts is 95 percent successful. How often? Once in a lifetime; if a small bulge is detected, it needs to be monitored periodically. Cost: $90 to $150; usually covered by insurance. Next page: Lifesaving Tests For Both of You The only repable colon cancer test Of the several screening tools for colon cancer, only colonoscopy is accurate. Sigmoidoscopy, a popular alternative, misses 30 percent of advanced growths in men and 65 percent in women. For a colonoscopy, you are sedated, then a scope is inserted through the anus into the colon, enabling a doctor to examine the entire length of the colon and to snip out any abnormalities encountered along the way. What you should know: Pick a doctor with special training in colonoscopy, such as a gastroenterologist or a colorectal surgeon. You also want a physician who performs the procedure at least 10 times a week. Examining the entire colon is a tricky feat that calls for special skill and practice, says Phipp Schoenfeld, M.D., of the University of Michigan School of Medicine. How often? Once every 10 years, starting at age 50; if precancerous polyps are found, you need to be tested more often. And some doctors advise that all patients have a colonoscopy every five years. Cost: About $1,000; not all health insurers cover. A superior heart scan Electron-beam computed tomography, a type of X ray, measures the amount of calcium in coronary arteries: the more calcium, the higher your heart attack risk. Studies have shown that EBCT is a far better predictor than either a stress test or a treadmill EKG, says Robert C. Detrano, M.D., of the UCLA Medical Center.  What you should know: The test is advised for anyone at intermediate risk for heart disease (for example, those whose LDL cholesterol is between 100 and 160). Depending on how high your calcium score is, your doctor may suggest only lifestyle changes (diet and exercise), or you may need cholesterol-lowering medication or further testing. How often? Varies according to test results, as well as your other risk factors. Cost: About $500; most health insurance companies do not cover EBCT. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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