Focus on early detection. You can increase your chances of early diagnosis by scheduling regular exams with your doctor.

Regular Cancer Screenings

At minimum, includes medical/lifestyle history and physical exam. Blood/urine tests and chest x-ray may also be included, at physician’s discretion.

Beginning at age 35, for women at high risk for endometrial cancer only. This especially includes women with genetic mutations associated with hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC). Women with HNPCC who have finished having children may choose to have a hysterectomy.

Women aged 25-65 should have either a Primary HPV DNA approved test alone every 5 years with an FDA-approved test or Co-testing (HPV test and Pap test) every 5 years or Pap test alone every 3 years. Follow guidelines even if vaccinated against HPV or have had a total hysterectomy. Women ages 66+ should stop cervical cancer screening if they have had negative HPV and Pap tests in the past 10 years, with the most recent test occurring in the past 5 years; or have had a total hysterectomy.

Research has not yet proven whether the benefits of prostate cancer screening outweigh the harms of testing and treatment. All men should talk with their doctor to decide if testing is right for them, beginning at age 50 for men at average risk, age 45 for African American men and high risk men, and age 40 for those with family history at a young age.

Beginning at age 45, men and women should take one of the following examinations: Colonoscopy (every 10 years), CT Colongraphy (every 5 years), MT-sDNA (every 3 years), or gFOBT or FIT, with at least 50% test sensitivity for cancer (yearly). Screening with the MT-sDNA, FOBT and FIT is done at home. Screening should continue to age 75. Your doctor may suggest screening up to age 85.

Lung cancer screening should only be considered for persons who meet all of the following criteria: Aged 55-74, in fairly good health, have a 30 pack-year smoking history, and either still smoke or quit within the past 15 years. Screening should only be done at facilities that have experience in LDCT for lung cancer screening. Discuss risks and benefits with your physician to decide if screening is right for you. Screening should not be viewed as an alternative to smoking cessation.

Note: Your doctor may suggest a different testing schedule depending on your risk of developing a specific type of cancer. Discuss with your doctor to develop a screening schedule that is tailored to your own situation: your age, family medical history, lifestyle, and occupation are important factors that you and your doctor should consider.

CANCER DETECTION GUIDELINES

….AGE…. FREQUENCY FEMALES MALES
18-20 One Time Complete health exam¹ Complete health exam¹
  Monthly Skin self-exam Skin self-exam, testes self-exam
21-24 Every 3 Years Complete health exam¹, clinical breast exam Complete health exam¹
  Yearly Endometrial biopsy²  
  Monthly Skin self-exam, breast self-exam Skin self-exam, testes self-exam
25-39 Every 5 Years Primary HPV DNA approved test; or Co-test (HPV test and Pap test)³  
  Every 3 Years Complete health exam¹, clinical breast exam, Pap test (if not testing at 5 years) Complete health exam¹
  Yearly Endometrial biopsy²  
  Monthly Skin self-exam, breast self-exam Skin self-exam, testes self-exam
40-49 Every 5-10 Years Colonoscopy, CT Colonography or flexible sigmoidoscopy5, Primary HPV DNA approved test; or Co-test (HPV test and Pap test)³ Colonoscopy, CT Colonography or flexible sigmoidoscopy
  Every 3 Years Complete health exam¹, Pap test (if not testing at 5 years), Multi-targeted stool DNA test (MT-sDNA)⁵ Complete health exam¹, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test⁴, Multi-targeted stool DNA test (MT-sDNA)⁵
  Yearly Clinical breast exam, mammogram, digital rectal exam, endometrial biopsy², guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT)⁵ Digital rectal exam, guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT)⁵
  Monthly Skin self-exam, breast self-exam Skin self-exam, testes self-exam
50-65 Every 5-10 Years Colonoscopy, CT Colonography or flexible sigmoidoscopy5, Primary HPV DNA approved test; or Co-test (HPV test and Pap test)³ Colonoscopy, CT Colonography or flexible sigmoidoscopy
  Every 3 Years Pap test (if not testing at 5 years), Multi-targeted stool DNA test (MT-sDNA)⁵ Multi-targeted stool DNA test (MT-sDNA)⁵
  Yearly Complete health exam¹, clinical breast exam, mammogram, endometrial biopsy², digital rectal exam, guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT)⁵, low dose helical CT (LDCT)⁶ Complete health exam¹, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test⁴, digital rectal exam, guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT)⁵, low dose helical CT (LDCT)⁶
  Monthly Skin self-exam, breast self-exam Skin self-exam, testes self-exam
66+ Every 5-10 Years Colonoscopy, CT Colonography or flexible sigmoidoscopy Colonoscopy, CT Colonography or flexible sigmoidoscopy
  Every 3 Years Multi-targeted stool DNA test (MT-sDNA)⁵ Multi-targeted stool DNA test (MT-sDNA)⁵
  Yearly Complete health exam¹, clinical breast exam, mammogram, endometrial biopsy², digital rectal exam, guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT)⁵, low dose helical CT (LDCT)⁶ Complete health exam¹, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test⁴, digital rectal exam, guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT)⁵, low dose helical CT (LDCT)⁶
  Monthly Skin self-exam, breast self-exam Skin self-exam, testes self-exam

 

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