Index of Common Procedures |
Click on the links below to get more information.
Blood Pressure
Breast Biopsy
Breast Self-Exam (BSE)
Cancer or pre-cancer of the breast or cervix
Cholesterol
Clinical Breast Exam (CBE)
Colon Cancer
Colonoscopy
Colposcopy
Diabetes
Double Contrast Barium Enema
Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
Heart Disease
Mammogram
Pap Test and Pelvic Exam |
Q: Pap What is a test?
A Pap Test is a way to look at a sample of cells taken from a woman’s cervix. The test is used to look for changes in the cells of the cervix that show cervical cancer or conditions that may develop into cancer. If detected early, cervical cancer can be cured. The Pap test is done during a pelvic exam. A doctor uses a device called a speculum to widen the opening of the vagina so that the cervix can be examined. A plastic spatula or small brush is used to collect cells from the cervix. The sample is then spread on a slide (Pap smear) or mixed in a liquid solution (liquid-based Pap test) and sent to a lab for examination under a microscope.
Every Woman Matters can pay for a Pap test every 2 years. If you ever have an abnormal Pap test, you and your provider will decide how often you get a Pap test according to program guidelines.
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Q: What is a Pelvic Exam?
The provider does a pelvic exam to check your fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus by putting two gloved fingers inside your vagina. With the other hand, he/she will feel from the outside for any lumps or tenderness. This exam is most often done with a Pap test. Every Woman Matters recommends you have a pelvic exam every year. In order for EWM to pay for the clinic visit every year, a clinical breast exam must be done at the same time as the pelvic exam. Index |
Q: What is a Breast Biopsy?
The removal of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a microscope to check for signs of cancer. If a lump in the breast tissue is found, the doctor may need to remove a small piece of the lump. A pathologist views the tissue under a microscope to look for cancer cells. Index |
Q: What is a Clinical Breast Exam (CBE)?
During a CBE, a trained provider checks your breasts for lumps for any changes by visual exam and by feeling with his/her fingers. Every Woman Matters recommends that you have a CBE every year if you are 40 years of age and older. Index |
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A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast. You will have x-rays taken of one breast at a time. A mammogram can find breast cancer that is too small for you and/or your provider to feel. Please do not wear deodorant or powder to your mammogram, as they can affect the x-ray. Every Woman Matters recommends that you get a mammogram every year if you are 50 years of age or older and every 1-2 years if you are between the ages of 40-49.
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Women diagnosed with cancer or pre-cancer of the breast or cervix, after September 1, 2001, through the Every Woman Matters program may be eligible for treatment services through Medicaid. This means that the majority of women screened and diagnosed with a breast or cervical cancer or pre-cancer will be eligible for Medicaid coverage. Women entering Medicaid are eligible for coverage for the duration of their treatment. If you find that you are in need of treatment, be sure to contact Every Woman Matters at 1-800-532-2227 and we will assist you in enrolling in Medicaid. Every Woman Matters does not pay for treatment for cancer of the breast or cervix or pre-cancer of the cervix, but we will likely be able to help you find other resources.
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Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy needed for daily life. In order to determine whether or not a client has pre-diabetes or diabetes, your doctor will conduct a fasting glucose test. A fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl signals pre-diabetes.
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Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, is any disorder that affects the heart’s ability to function normally. The most common cause of heart disease is narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart itself. This happens slowly over time. High blood cholesterol and high blood pressure may cause heart disease.
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Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. Cholesterol is found in some of the foods you eat. Cholesterol is used to make hormones, Vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. The optimal TOTAL cholesterol level is less than 200. Blood is watery and cholesterol is fatty. Just like oil and water, the two do not mix. So, in order to travel in the bloodstream, cholesterol is carried in small packages called lipoproteins (lip-o-PRO-teens). The small packages are made of fat (lipid) on the inside and proteins on the outside. Two kinds of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout your body. It is important to have healthy levels of both:
- LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol is sometimes called “bad” cholesterol. High LDL cholesterol leads to a buildup of cholesterol in arteries. The higher the LDL level in your blood, the greater chance you have for getting heart disease. The optimal LDL cholesterol level is less than 100.
HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol is sometimes called “good” cholesterol. HDL carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. The liver removes the cholesterol from your body. The higher your HDL cholesterol level, the lower your chance of getting heart disease. The optimal HDL cholesterol level is greater than or equal to 40.
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Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Each time the heart beats (about 60-70 times a minute at rest), it pumps out blood into the arteries. When high blood pressure is not found and treated, it can cause the heart to get larger, which may lead to heart failure. If high blood pressure is not found and treated it can also cause blood vessels in the kidney to narrow which may cause kidney failure. Arteries throughout the body “harden” faster, especially those in the heart, brain, kidneys, and legs. This can cause a heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, or other health concerns. The optimal blood pressure is 120/80.
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Colon cancer is a disease of the lower bowel or colon. Frequently there are no signs or symptoms of colon cancer. When abnormal growths in the colon are found early and removed, the disease is preventable.
The American Cancer Society recommends that all men and women over 50 years of age be screened for colon cancer. Discuss this test with your health care provider when you have your annual breast and cervical and cardiovascular health screenings. For more information, please visit the Nebraska Colon Cancer Screening Program.
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A colposcopy is the most common test for women who have had one or more abnormal Pap test results. The exam can be done in 15 to 30 minutes in the office or clinic by a health care provider who has the experience and necessary equipment. It is a special exam that takes a closer look at your cervix (the lower narrow end of the uterus or womb).
The health care provider uses a colposcope to view your cervix along with a speculum, the same instrument used to widen the opening of your vagina during your Pap tests. The colposcope is a magnifying glass with a bright light in it. During the test you might feel nothing at all or a mild tingling. Diluted white vinegar is put on the surface of the cervix. Areas that are abnormal turn white from the vinegar and can be seen more easily. If abnormal cells are seen, a sample of the cells (biopsy) will be taken. The cells are sent to a lab for closer study. You might feel a little pinching or cramping during the biopsy. Your health care provider may suggest taking a Tylenol or a similar medication 30 to 45 minutes before the exam. Be sure to discuss with your health care provider the instruction you need to take home with you. Depending on the results, your health care provider may want to discuss treatment choices with you.
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A test that checks for hidden blood in the stool. At home, using a small stick from a test kit, you place a small amount of your stool, from three different bowel movements three days in a row, on test cards. You return the cards to your doctor’s office or a lab, where they’re checked for blood. This test is recommended yearly. If blood is found, you will need a follow-up colonoscopy.
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Before this test, you use a strong laxative and/or enema to clean out the colon. Flexible sigmoidoscopy is conducted at the doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital. The doctor uses a narrow, flexible, lighted tube to look at the inside of the rectum and the lower portion of the colon. During the exam, the doctor may remove some polyps (abnormal growths) and collect samples of tissue or cells for more testing. This test is recommended every 5 years. If polyps are found, you will need a follow-up colonoscopy.
Having both of the above tests together increases the chances of finding polyps and cancers. When used together, FOBT is recommended yearly and a flexible sigmoidoscopy is recommended every 5 years.
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Before this test, you will take a strong laxative to cleanse the colon. Colonoscopy is conducted in a doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital. You are given a sedative to make you more comfortable, while the doctor uses a narrow, flexible, lighted tube to look inside the rectum and the entire colon. During the exam, the doctor may remove some polyps and collect samples of tissue or cells for more testing. This test is recommended every 10 years.
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This test is conducted in a radiology center or hospital. Before the test, you use a strong laxative and/or enema to clean out the colon. This procedure involves taking x-rays of the rectum and colon after you are given an enema with a barium solution, followed by an injection of air. The barium coats the lining of the intestines so that polyps and other abnormalities are visible on the x-ray. This test is recommended every 5 years.
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