Women's Cancer Prevention Programme

EliteMedical's Women's Cancer Prevention Programme is a structured oncological screening for women aged 40 and above, integrating internal medicine, tumour marker blood testing, and breast imaging into a coordinated programme. The first appointment at EliteMedical covers a comprehensive internal examination and a blood draw including gynaecological and oncological tumour markers (CA 125, CEA, and others based on individual risk profile). The breast imaging component — ultrasound or mammography, chosen based on age and breast density — is carried out at a partner radiology facility. All results are consolidated and reviewed by the EliteMedical physician, who contextualises the tumour marker values, imaging findings, and clinical examination to produce a comprehensive risk summary and prevention plan. The clinic cites evidence that early diagnosis can increase the chance of successful oncological treatment by up to 100%, and Prof. MUDr. Luboš Petruželka CSc. is available for oncological consultations for patients where follow-up is warranted.

The Onkologická prevence pro ženy programme at EliteMedical addresses the most common malignancies affecting women — breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and colorectal cancer — with a coordinated diagnostic approach that goes beyond the single-point tumour marker test typically available from standalone blood testing services. **Who should consider this programme:** Women aged 40 and above are the primary target group. However, the clinic also considers this programme for women from age 25 with a strong family history of BRCA-related cancers (breast, ovarian, pancreatic) or hereditary colorectal syndromes. Tumour marker screening in the context of a full clinical assessment provides meaningfully more useful information than isolated marker testing, since most markers have low specificity in isolation but higher clinical value when interpreted alongside examination findings and imaging. **Programme components:** 1. **Initial internal medicine examination** — the attending physician takes a detailed history covering personal and family cancer history, reproductive history (menarche, pregnancies, hormone use), and current symptoms. A systematic physical examination is completed. 2. **Blood draw — tumour markers and general oncological panel:** - CA 125 — ovarian cancer marker (primary use: monitoring and risk stratification in women with symptoms or family history) - CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) — colorectal, lung, and breast cancer marker - CA 15-3 — breast cancer monitoring marker - HE4 — ovarian cancer marker with higher specificity than CA 125 alone, especially in post-menopausal women - CA 19-9 — pancreatic, biliary and gastric cancer marker (added based on risk profile) - General inflammatory, haematological, and metabolic markers as clinically indicated 3. **Breast imaging at a partner facility:** - Women under 40 or with dense breast tissue: ultrasound (more sensitive in dense tissue than mammography) - Women 40–50: mammography, or ultrasound if density warrants - Women 50+: mammography (standard recommended frequency: every 2 years in asymptomatic women; annually for higher-risk individuals) - Imaging is arranged by EliteMedical at a partner radiology facility and the report is returned to the EliteMedical physician for consolidated review 4. **Results review and prevention plan** — the EliteMedical physician reviews all tumour marker values, imaging reports, and clinical findings together and produces a written risk assessment. Where any marker is elevated or imaging raises concern, the patient is referred to Prof. MUDr. Luboš Petruželka CSc. (clinical oncologist) or to the relevant specialist depending on the finding. The prevention plan includes recommended screening intervals, lifestyle risk-reduction measures, and any required follow-up imaging or biopsy instructions. **Understanding tumour markers:** Tumour markers are substances produced by cancerous cells or by the body in response to cancer. Critically, most markers can also be elevated by benign conditions — endometriosis or uterine fibroids can raise CA 125, for example. This is why the clinical context of a full examination matters: the EliteMedical physician interprets each value in the light of the clinical picture, rather than generating a lab printout for the patient to interpret alone. **Frequency:** For average-risk women, annually from age 40. For higher-risk women (BRCA gene variants, first-degree family history of breast or ovarian cancer), more frequent intervals may be recommended by the physician. **Complementary option:** The DNA Health Test (available separately at EliteMedical) analyses 47 genes including BRCA1/2 and provides a lifetime hereditary cancer risk profile that can inform the intensity of ongoing screening.