Recommended comprehensive medical check-up for women aged 64 and over

BREAST EXAMINATION

Women up to the age of 75 should have a breast examination every year (mammography/tomosynthesis, ultrasound or MRI). Contact your doctor immediately if you notice a change in your breasts, regardless of whether you perform breast self-examination or not.

ABDOMINAL EXAMINATION

Abdominal ultrasound is a quick and painless examination that can assess almost all parts of the upper and lower abdomen and in this way detect changes and diseases.

SCREENING AND EARLY DETECTION OF CERVICAL CANCER

After the age of 65, most women who have not been diagnosed with cervical cancer or precancer can stop having the Pap test (if they have had three negative tests in the past 10 years).

SCREENING AND EARLY DETECTION OF COLON CANCER

Up to the age of 75, you should have regular colon cancer screening tests, and after that you should ask your doctor whether you need to be examined.
There are several screening tests available:

• Occult blood test
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years or every 10 years with stool testing for occult blood every year
• CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years
• Colonoscopy every 10 years

SCREENING AND EARLY DETECTION OF LUNG CANCER

According to the guidelines of the Croatian Thoracic Society and the Section for Thoracic Radiology of the Croatian Society, individuals who are at high risk of developing lung cancer should undergo low-dose radiation MSCT (low dose CT or abbreviated LDCT) screening:

• people aged 50-75 who are active smokers or who quit smoking within 15 years before screening, with a smoking history of at least 30 years (30 pack-years).

Guidelines of other international societies additionally recommend:

1. screening for smokers who currently smoke and have not quit smoking in the past 15 years
2. screening for people who were active smokers
3. people who have other risks for developing lung cancer (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – COPD, people with a family history of lung cancer, and people who have been exposed to asbestosis).

Read more on our blog Lung cancer screening.

BLOOD PRESSURE

Measure your blood pressure at least once a year if you do not already have problems with the cardiovascular system (if the systolic pressure (higher number) is 130 or higher, and the diastolic pressure (lower number) is 80 or higher – schedule a cardiology examination. It is also advised to have an ECG.
If you have other diseases, you must monitor your blood pressure more carefully.

SCREENING AND EARLY DETECTION OF DIABETES

If you are 65 or older and in good health, you should be screened for diabetes every 3 years. If you are overweight and have other risk factors for diabetes, ask your doctor whether you should be screened more often. In the event of any changes, an endocrinologist examination is recommended.

CHOLESTEROL AND PREVENTION OF HEART DISEASE

If your cholesterol level is normal, check it at least every 5 years. If you have high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or certain other conditions, you may need to be checked more often.

OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING

Almost all women over the age of 50 should have a bone density test (DEXA scan).

SKIN EXAMINATION

Skin changes should be examined regularly and a dermatoscopy examination should be done once a year.

BLOOD TESTS AND URINE

CBC (differential), cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL, VLDL, AST, ALT, GGT, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, iron, UIBC/TIBC, glucose, urea, urates, creatinine, CRP, TSH, fT4, fT4, stool examination for occult bleeding, blood draw and processing. Urine test with sediment.

Book using the form