Cancer Screenings

Are You Up to Date on Your Cancer Screenings?

Reducing your risk of cancer by avoiding tobacco, maintaining a healthy weight, and using sunscreen are some of the best approaches you can take to protect yourself from cancer. The next best thing to prevention is early detection: finding cancer in its early, most treatable stages. That is the goal of cancer screening tests such as mammograms, colonoscopies, lung cancer screening, and skin exams.

When you should start these tests and how often you should have them varies according to your age, gender, and family and personal medical history. We’ve broken down the screening guidelines for men and women by age to make it easy for you to know which tests to get. Take a look and be sure to schedule the tests you’re due for; your primary care physician can help point you in the right direction for testing and provide insights about screening guidelines that are specific to your personal health.

For more information about these exams and screening recommendations, visit the American Cancer Society website. To schedule an appointment, visit one of our convenient mammogram or lung cancer screening locations below, or find a doctor.

Cancer Screening Tests for Women

  • Breast cancer screening may begin before age 45 for some women with a family or medical history that raises their breast cancer risk. Speak with your doctor about when you should start screening.
  • Cervical cancer screening with a Pap test is recommended starting at age 21. Women ages 21-29 should have a Pap test every 3 years. Starting at age 30, the test should be done every 5 years with an HPV test, or every 3 years with the Pap test alone.  The most important thing to remember is to get screened regularly, no matter which test you get.
  • Colorectal cancer screening with colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or stool blood or DNA testing may start prior to age 45 if you have a strong family history of colon cancer or polyps or a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease or polyps.
  • Skin cancer screening may be considered, especially if you have a family history of the disease or suspicious/abnormal moles. Ask your doctor if you should have periodic full-body checks by a dermatologist.

  • Breast cancer screening with an annual mammogram should start at age 44.
  • Cervical cancer screening with a Pap test and HPV test every 5 years, or every 3 years with the Pap test alone. The most important thing to remember is to get screened regularly, no matter which test you get.
  • Cervical cancer screening with a Pap test and HPV test every 5 years, or every 3 years with the Pap test alone.
  • Colorectal cancer screening with colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or stool blood or DNA testing should start at age 45. The test may be done every 10 years (more frequently in those with polyps).
  • Skin cancer screening may be considered, with a full-body skin check by a dermatologist.

  • Breast cancer screening with mammography can be done every two years starting at age 55, or you can continue to get a mammogram each year.
  • Cervical cancer screening with a Pap test and HPV test every 5 years, or every 3 years with the Pap test alone.
  • Colorectal cancer screening with colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or stool blood or DNA testing every 10 years (more frequently in those with polyps).
  • Lung cancer screening using low-dose CT scanning for adults age 55 or older who have a 30 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or quit in the last 15 years.
  • Skin cancer screening may be considered, with a full-body skin check by a dermatologist.

  • Breast cancer screening with mammography every 1-2 years.
  • Cervical cancer screening is no longer needed if you have had regular cervical cancer testing with normal results during the previous 10 years.
  • No testing is needed for cervical cancer if you’ve had regular cervical cancer testing with normal results during the previous 10 years.
  • No testing is needed after surgery that removed the cervix as long as it was done for reasons not related to cervical cancer or pre-cancer.
  • People with a history of a serious cervical pre-cancer should continue testing for 25 years after that diagnosis.
  • Colorectal cancer screening with colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or stool blood or DNA testing until age 75. Some individuals may still need periodic screening until age 85.
  • Lung cancer screening using low-dose CT scanning for adults up to age 80 who have a 30 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or quit in the last 15 years.
  • Skin cancer screening may be considered, with a full-body skin check by a dermatologist.

Cancer Screening Tests for Men

  • Colorectal cancer screening with colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or stool blood or DNA testing if you have a strong family history of colon cancer or polyps or a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease or polyps.
  • Skin cancer screening may be considered, especially if you have a family history of the disease or suspicious/abnormal moles. Ask your doctor if you should have periodic full-body checks by a dermatologist.
  • Men with more than one close relative who has had prostate cancer before age 65 are at higher risk and should talk with a doctor about testing starting at age 40.

  • Prostate cancer screening is a discussion you should have with your doctor starting at age 45 if you have a higher than average risk of this disease. This includes men with close family members (father, brother, son) who had prostate cancer before age 65 as well as African-American men. Screening includes a blood test for the PSA protein. All men should discuss the pros and cons of PSA testing with their doctors starting at age 50.
  • Colorectal cancer screening with colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or stool blood or DNA testing starting at age 45. The test may be done every 10 years (more frequently in those with polyps).
  • Skin cancer screening may be considered, with a full-body skin check by a dermatologist.

  • Prostate cancer screening with PSA testing should be discussed with your doctor to weigh the benefits and risks.
  • Colorectal cancer screening with colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or stool blood or DNA testing every 10 years (more frequently in those with polyps).
  • Lung cancer screening using low- dose CT scanning for adults age 55-80 who have a 30 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or quit in the last 15 years.
  • Skin cancer screening may be considered, with a full-body skin check by a dermatologist.

  • Prostate cancer screening with PSA testing should be discussed with your physician if you expect to live 10 or more years.
  • Colorectal cancer screening with colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or stool blood or DNA testing until age 75. Some individuals may still need periodic screening until age 85.
  • Lung cancer screening using low-dose CT scanning for adults up to age 80 who have a 30 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or quit in the last 15 years.
  • Talk to your health care provider about lung cancer screening using low-dose CT scanning if you have a 30 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or quit in the last 15 years.
  • Skin cancer screening may be considered, with a full-body skin check by a dermatologist.

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