American Cancer Society - Cancer Screening Recommendations

Screening tests are used to help find cancer in a person who has no symptoms. Screening can often help find precancers and cancers early, before they spread.

Here are the American Cancer Society's recommendations for screening for certain cancers, to guide you when talking with your doctor:

 

Breast cancer

1. Women aged 40 to 44 should have the option to screen for breast cancer every year with a mammogram (breast X-ray) if they wish to do so.
2. Women aged 45 to 54 should have a mammogram every year.
3. Women aged 55 and older can have a mammogram every two years or may continue yearly screening.
4. Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live 10 more years or longer.
5. All women should be familiar with the known benefits, limitations and potential harms of breast cancer screening.
6. Women should also know how their breasts normally look and feel, and should report any breast changes to a health care provider right away.

Because of family history, a genetic tendency or certain other factors, some women should be screened with MRIs along with mammograms. (The number of women who fall into this category is very small.) Talk to a health care provider about your risk for breast cancer and the screening plan that is best for you.

 

Colon and rectal cancer and polyps

For people at average risk, the American Cancer Society recommends that regular screening begin at age 45. This can be done with a sensitive test that looks for signs of cancer in a person's stool (a stool-based test) or with an exam that looks at the colon and rectum (a visual exam). Talk to your health care provider about which tests might be good options for you, and ask your insurance provider about coverage. Whichever test you choose, the most important thing is to get screened.

If you are in good health, you should continue regular screening through age 75.

People aged 76 to 85 should talk with their health care provider about whether continuing to screen is right for them. When deciding, consider your own preferences, overall health and past screening history.

People over age 85 should no longer get colorectal cancer screening.

If you choose to be screened with a test other than a colonoscopy, any abnormal test result should be followed up with a colonoscopy.

 

Cervical cancer

1. Cervical cancer screening should begin at age 25. People under age 25 should not be tested because cervical cancer is rare in this age group.
2. People aged 25 to 65 should have a primary HPV (human papillomavirus) test every 5 years. If primary HPV testing is not available, screening with an HPV test together with a Pap test (co-testing) every 5 years, or a Pap test every 3 years, are still good options.

(A primary HPV test is an HPV test done by itself for screening. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved certain tests to be used as primary HPV tests.)

You should remember that the most important thing is to be screened regularly, whichever test you get.

1. People over age 65 who have had regular cervical cancer testing in the past 10 years should not be tested for cervical cancer.
2. Once testing is stopped, it should not be started again. People with a history of a serious cervical precancer should continue to be tested even after age 65, even if testing goes beyond age 65.

Endometrial cancer

The American Cancer Society recommends that all women at menopause be informed about the risks and symptoms of endometrial cancer. Women should report any unexpected vaginal bleeding or spotting to their doctors.

Depending on their history, some women should consider an annual endometrial biopsy. Please talk to a health care provider about your history.

 

Lung cancer

The American Cancer Society recommends annual screening for lung cancer with a low-dose CT (LDCT) scan:

1. For people aged 50 to 80 who currently smoke or used to smoke
2. For people with at least a 20 pack-year smoking history

Before deciding on screening, people should have a conversation with a health professional about the purpose of screening and how it is done, and about its benefits, limits and possible harms.

1. People who still smoke should be counseled about quitting, and interventions and resources should be offered to help.
2. Screening should not be done in people who have serious health problems that limit how long they are likely to live, or who cannot or do not want to receive treatment even if lung cancer is found.

 

Prostate cancer

The American Cancer Society recommends that men make an informed decision with a health care provider about whether to be tested for prostate cancer.

Starting at age 50, men should talk to a health care provider to decide whether testing is needed.

If you are of African descent, or if your father or brother had prostate cancer before age 65, you should start talking with a health care provider about this at age 45.

If you decide to be tested, you should have a PSA blood test, or a rectal exam may be done. How often you need to be tested will depend on your PSA level.

 

Take charge of your health and help reduce your cancer risk.

1. Stay away from tobacco use.
2. Get to and stay at a healthy weight.
3. Stay active with regular physical activity.
4. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
5. It is best not to drink alcohol. If you do, have no more than 1 drink per day for women or 2 drinks per day for men.
6. Protect your skin.
7. Know yourself, your family history and your risks.
8. Get regular health check-ups and cancer screening tests.