Cancer Screening Guide

As a reference note - ACS stands for American Cancer Society

BREAST
Who needs regular screenings?  All Women

ACS Recommendations:

• Monthly breast self-exams beginning at age 20
• Breast exam by medical provider, every three years for women ages 20 to 39
• Annual mammograms and breast exams, by medical provider for women ages 40 and older

CERVICAL
Who needs regular screenings?  All women age 18 and older, or upon becoming sexually active

ACS Recommendations:

• Annual Pap smears. After three normal tests, a woman may need smears less frequently.

COLORECTAL
Who needs regular screenings?  All adults age 50 and older

ACS Recommendations:

• Fecal occult blood test every year
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years
• Double contrast barium enema every five years
• Colonoscopy every ten years
   

PROSTATE
Who needs regular screenings?  Men age 50 and older

ACS Recommendations

• The ACS suggests that men talk to their medical provider about the value of two tests:
• Digital rectal exams
• Prostate specific antigen blood tests
  .

SKIN
Who needs regular screening?  All adults age 20 and older

ACS Recommendations

• Skin self-exams once a month
• Skin exam by medical provider, every three years until age 39, and once a year beginning at age 40
   

ORAL
Who needs regular screening?  All adults

ACS Recommendations

• Annual exam by dentist or medical provider

Cancer screenings enable medical providers to catch cancer in the early stages, when the disease is most treatable. The above information is a list of screening guidelines from the American Cancer Society. To view the ACS website list, click here.  Women and men at high risk for these diseases may need earlier or more frequent screenings; please check with your doctor. 

Screenings are available through your primary care provider.