Get regular check-ups and cancer screening tests to help prevent cancer or catch it early.
Breast Cancer
Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing as long as a woman is in good health.
Colorectal Cancer/Colon Cancer
Beginning at age 45, talk to your doctor about the testing option that is best for you and then have regular testing.
The tests that are designed to find both early cancer and polyps are preferred. Check whether these tests are available to you and decide whether you are willing to have one of these:
- Colonoscopy
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy
Prostate Cancer
Starting at age 50, men should talk to a doctor about the pros and cons of testing so they can decide if testing is the right choice for them. If they are African American or have a father or brother who has prostate cancer before age 65, men should have this talk with a doctor starting at age 45.
Lung Cancer
The American Cancer Society (ACS) does not recommend tests to screen lung cancer in people who are at average risk of this disease. Lung cancer screening is done yearly on people who:
- Are between 50 and 80 years old, and
- Smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years, and
- Have a history of heavy smoking (20 pack years or more).
- A pack year is smoking an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for one year.
Cervical Cancer
Women between the ages of 30 and 65 should have a Pap test plus an HPV test (called co-testing) every 5 years. This is the preferred approach for this age group, but it is also fine to have a Pap test alone every 3 years.
Some women – because of their health history – may need to have a different screening schedule for cervical cancer.
An annual Well-Woman gynecologic exam is recommended.