When it comes to cancer, finding it early makes a big difference. New tools in women’s cancer screening are helping health care professionals do just that.
These advances are helping catch cancer sooner and with more detail than ever before. They’re especially important in detecting breast and cervical cancers, two of the most common cancers in women. Read on to learn what’s new and why it matters for your health.
A better view with 3D mammograms
Mammograms have long been the go-to tool for spotting breast cancer. But traditional mammograms only give two flat images of each breast, which can sometimes hide signs of cancer, especially in women with dense breast tissue.
With the move to 3D mammograms, or digital breast tomosynthesis, health care specialists can now get a clearer picture.
“3D mammography has been a great advancement, allowing us a better view of the breast tissue,” said Danielle Summers, MD, a diagnostic radiologist with Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center. “Instead of just looking at the two images of each breast we get with traditional mammography, a 3D mammogram allows us to get multiple – often 50 to 100 – images of each breast, which we can then view in slices.”
These thin slices can be examined layer by layer, making it easier to spot small or hidden cancers and to tell the difference between normal and abnormal tissue. This reduces the number of women who get called back for more testing, which can help ease stress and worry.
“Reducing false positives helps spare patients from unnecessary follow-up tests and the anxiety that comes with them,” said Jennifer Siettmann, MS, CGC, a certified genetic counselor with Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center. “Higher accuracy means fewer false negatives, which is critical because early detection can lead to better outcomes.”
Personal risk and the role of genetics
Cancer screening used to follow a one-size-fits-all schedule. Today, health care professionals take a more personalized approach based on your individual risk factors.
“Genetic testing and empiric risk assessment can give us a more tailored look at what your individual risk for cancer may be,” Siettmann said. “It’s a way to shine a flashlight down the hallway ahead of you so you can see and hopefully avoid the obstacles in your path.”
“Genetic testing plays a big part in creating personalized screening recommendations that are appropriate for each patient,” Dr. Summers added. “It can help identify patients at increased risk so they can get more intensive screening to detect cancers earlier or pursue options to decrease the chances of cancer developing at all through prophylactic surgeries.”
For example, carrying a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation may mean a significantly higher lifetime risk for breast or ovarian cancer. That information helps guide more proactive screening, such as starting mammograms earlier (even as young as 30), repeating them more often or adding MRIs or other tests.
Even without a known gene mutation, your personal and family history can be used to calculate your risk. If that risk exceeds a certain threshold, your provider may recommend more advanced or frequent screenings.
“This is why giving a detailed family history to your doctor is so important,” Siettmann said. “Even if you test negative for a mutation, your family history may still qualify you for more frequent or advanced screenings.”
[Read more about genetic testing for breast cancer and how it affects treatment and prevention.]
Cervical cancer: Screening that fits your life
Cervical cancer screening has also seen big changes. Pap tests used to be the main method for checking for abnormal cells. Now, HPV testing is becoming the first step in screening. HPV, or human papillomavirus, is the leading cause of cervical cancer.
HPV tests can often find problems earlier than Pap tests alone. They can also make it easier to track changes over time and how often you need screening.
Another promising development is at-home HPV testing. These tests are still being studied, but they could help more women get screened, especially those who don’t have access to a clinic or who feel uncomfortable with in-office tests.
Technology helps doctors see more
Artificial intelligence (AI) is also starting to play a role in cancer screening. AI tools can help health care specialists spot changes or patterns in mammograms or Pap tests that might be easy to miss. These tools highlight areas that need a closer look, supporting specialists’ work but not replacing it.
“There’s a lot of potential for AI to support how we interpret results,” Siettmann said. “It might help spot trends in family history or lab work that clue us into someone needing further evaluation. But we must also be cautious and ensure patient safety and privacy come first.”
The medical field sees the promise of AI in screening, but experts say they need to balance innovation with responsible use.
Blood tests and more
One of the most exciting areas in cancer screening is the development of liquid biopsies — simple blood tests that look for traces of cancer DNA. Currently, these tests are mainly used for people who already have cancer or are at high risk. But someday, they could become a standard tool for early detection.
“We're hoping that biomarker testing will be the next stage of cancer screening,” Siettmann said. “It won’t replace traditional screening tools yet, but it has the potential to supplement them. We need more data to understand how accurate they are and how to handle results.”
Researchers are also exploring multi-cancer detection tests that look for signs of multiple cancers from a single blood sample. These are still in early use but could make screening more accessible and less invasive in the future.
Why these advances matter
All of these tools — 3D mammograms, genetic testing, HPV screening, AI and liquid biopsies — are part of a growing movement toward personalized, accurate and accessible cancer screenings.
“Early detection means more treatment options, smaller surgeries and better outcomes,” Dr. Summers said. “And these new methods can help reduce the stress that often comes with screening by giving us clearer images and more targeted recommendations.”
Many breast and cervical cancers have benefited from improved screening methods. But others, like uterine or ovarian cancer, still lack reliable early detection tools.
“There’s a misconception that a Pap smear can screen for all gynecologic cancers, but it doesn’t detect uterine or ovarian cancer,” Siettmann said. “We really need better screening options for these aggressive cancers to help catch issues earlier, when cancer is most treatable.”
Stay informed and take charge
The most important step is to talk to your health care provider. Screening guidelines change and your personal and family history may require a different screening schedule or type of screening.
Here are some questions to ask:
- When should I start breast or cervical cancer screening?
- Should I have a risk assessment or genetic test?
- Are newer screening options, like 3D mammograms or at-home HPV tests, available to me?
By staying informed and speaking openly about your health, you can ensure you get the best care possible. Learn more about the latest advancements in cancer screening at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center and talk to your provider about what's right for you.
