Getting screened to help find cancer
Cancer screening tests are used to help find cancer before a person has any symptoms.
Knowing which cancer screenings you need—and when to get them—can be helpful in finding cancer earlier, before it has spread. Use the information on this page to have more informed conversations with your doctor and be an advocate for your health.
What’s your cancer risk?
Cancer risk can be defined as the chance that you may develop cancer. Understanding your cancer risk is a first step in trying to lower your risk.
There are many risk factors for the many types of cancer. But in general, cancer risk factors include, but are not limited to:
- Older age
- A personal or family history of cancer
- Using tobacco
- Obesity
- Alcohol
- Some types of viral infections
- Specific chemicals
- Exposure to radiation, including ultraviolet radiation from sunlight
There are many behaviors that may help lower your cancer risk, including but not limited to the following: don’t use tobacco, keep physically active, eat a balanced diet, limit alcohol, wear a hat and sunscreen when exposed to the sun, and know your family’s cancer history.
One thing you can do to help protect yourself from cancer is to get screened for cancer. And the way to get screened is by seeing your primary care doctor.
Talk to your doctor about your risk for cancer
Share your family history of cancer with your doctor. If many family members have developed the same type of cancer, your health care provider may discuss genetic counseling as an option for you. Talk to your doctor about other things you can do to help lower your risk of developing the same cancer.
Getting your cancer screenings started
It’s normal to feel nervous or emotional about cancer screening. But finding cancer early is important. A cancer caught at an earlier stage may be more successfully treated than a cancer caught at a later stage.
How do you get screened for cancers? Start by making an appointment
with your primary care doctor. Your doctor will help direct you to the
right screenings based on certain factors, including, but not limited to:
- Age
- Sex
- Screening guidelines
You may already be due for a cancer screening
Keep in mind that getting screened for cancer does not mean you have cancer. In fact, cancer screening aims to spot pre-cancerous cells and detect cancer before there are symptoms. In many cases, screening may spot pre-cancerous cells.
But if you have noticed something about your body that seems different, tell your doctor. A cough that won’t go away, a mole that looks different, a change in your bowel movements are examples of what to share.
Women living in rural areas are behind on cervical and colorectal cancer screenings
In 2018, women who live in rural areas were approximately a third less likely to be up to date with cervical cancer screening compared to those living in cities. Researchers point to poor access to health care as a significant reason for this difference.
Between 2017 and 2020, women in rural areas were 19% less likely to be up to date with colorectal cancer screening than those in cities.
Cancer screening recommendations by age
Screening Guidelines from the American Cancer Society (ACS)
The information below is based on information originally published by the American Cancer Society (ACS), a nationwide voluntary health organization dedicated to cancer prevention and treatment through advocacy, research, and patient support.
According to the ACS, the top 5 cancers all eligible adults should be screened for are:
- Breast cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Colorectal (colon or rectal) cancer
- Lung cancer
- Prostate cancer
21-39 years
If you are at higher risk of breast cancer, breast exams may be done by your health care provider. However, all women should be aware of how their breasts normally look and feel. You can perform self-exams and you should report any changes to your health care provider.
Learn more about self-examsStarting at age 25, you should have a primary HPV (human papillomavirus) test every 5 years. If that is not available to you, you should have:
- a co-test (an HPV test done at the same time as a Pap test) every 5 years, or
- a Pap test by itself every 3 years
Cervical cancer rates are higher in women of color
In 2018, the rate of cervical cancer was:
23% higher in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women than in non-Hispanic White women
47% higher in Hispanic women than in non-Hispanic White women
48% higher for Black women than in White women
40-49 years
At age 45 years, everyone at average risk of colorectal cancer should be screened. Testing options include:
- A stool-based test: you collect the stool sample and send it off to be tested
- A visual exam: a colonoscopy (pronounced “KOH-luh-NOS-koh-pee”) is a visual examination of the colon and rectum in which an instrument is inserted into the rectum
Talk to your health care provider about which one is right for you.
Younger Black and Hispanic Americans are at a higher risk for colorectal cancer
In recent years, the rate of colorectal cancer in people younger than 50 years has increased 2.2% each year, with disproportionately high rates in Black and Hispanic individuals compared to White individuals. In response, the screening age was lowered to age 45 from age 50 by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
- Between age 40 to 44, you can choose to have mammograms (x-rays of the breast) every year. Talk to your health care provider to see if this is a good option for you
- At age 45, you should get mammograms every year
If you are at higher risk of breast cancer, breast exams may be done by your health care provider. However, all women should be aware of how their breasts normally look and feel. You can perform self-exams and you should report any changes to your health care provider.
Learn more about self-examsDense breasts and breast cancer risk
Having dense breasts is a known risk for breast cancer, and Black women are more likely than White women to have dense breasts. Many studies have found that 3D mammography appears to lower the chance of being called back after screening for follow-up testing. It also appears to find more breast cancers. Several studies have shown it can be helpful in women with more dense breasts.
You should have a primary HPV (human papillomavirus) test every 5 years. If that is not available to you, you should have:
- a co-test (an HPV test done at the same time as a Pap test) every 5 years, or
- a Pap test by itself every 3 years
- No testing is needed if the cervix was removed for reasons unrelated to cancer or pre-cancer
It is important to talk with your doctor about the risks, benefits, and uncertainties of testing for prostate cancer. It is still unclear whether the benefits of prostate cancer screening outweigh the risk for most men. The ACS recommendation for prostate cancer screening includes:
- Age 45 for men at high risk. High risk includes Black men and men who have a first-degree relative (such as a father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer younger than age 65.
- Age 40 for men at higher risk. Higher risk includes those men with more than one first-degree relative (such as a father or brother) who had prostate cancer younger than age 65.
50-64 years
You should continue having regular screenings for colorectal cancer. Testing options include:
- A stool-based test: you collect the stool sample and send it off to be tested
- A visual exam: a colonoscopy (pronounced “KOH-luh-NOS-koh-pee”) is a visual examination of the colon and rectum in which an instrument is inserted into the rectum
Talk to your health care provider about which one is right for you.
Screening age recommendation is from age 50 to 80 years for individuals at high risk for lung cancer.
Talk to your health care provider to determine if you are at high risk for lung cancer and if you are eligible for screening.
Smoking is one of the risks for lung cancer: What is a pack year?
Doctors and medical researchers use the phrase “pack year” to measure how much a person has smoked in their lifetime.
1 pack year = smoking 1 pack of (20 cigarettes) a day for 1 year
2 pack years = smoking 2 packs a day for 1 year
This is one way your risk for lung cancer is estimated.
- From age 50 to 54, you should get a mammogram (x-ray of the breast) every year
- At age 55, you may choose to have a mammogram every 2 years or stay with the yearly schedule
If you are at higher risk of breast cancer, breast exams may be done by your health care provider. However, all women should be aware of how their breasts normally look and feel. You can perform self-exams and you should report any changes to your health care provider.
Learn more about self-examsYou should have a primary HPV (human papillomavirus) test every 5 years. If that is not available to you, you should have:
- a co-test (an HPV test done at the same time as a Pap test) every 5 years, or
- a Pap test by itself every 3 years
- No testing is needed if the cervix was removed for reasons unrelated to cancer or pre-cancer
At age 50, men who are at average risk of prostate cancer and are expected to live at least 10 more years can have a discussion with their doctor about screening.
It is important to talk with your doctor about the risks, benefits, and uncertainties of testing for prostate cancer. It is still unclear whether the benefits of prostate cancer screening outweigh the risk for most men. The ACS recommendation for men age 50 and older who are at average risk is to be screened if they are expected to live at least 10 more years.
Prostate cancer is far more common in Black Americans
According to the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI’s) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, the rate of prostate cancer incidence from 2016 to 2020 was 65% higher in non-Hispanic Black men compared to non-Hispanic White men. Non-Hispanic Black men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer compared to non-Hispanic White men.
65 years and older
Testing is recommended up through age 75. After age 75, talk to your health care provider about whether to continue colorectal cancer screening or not. Testing options include:
- A stool-based test: the patient collects the stool sample and sends it off to be tested
- A visual exam: a colonoscopy (pronounced “KOH-luh-NOS-koh-pee”) is a visual examination of the colon and rectum in which an instrument is inserted into the rectum
Talk to your health care provider about which one is right for you.
Screening age recommendation is from age 50 to 80 years for individuals at high risk for lung cancer.
Talk to your health care provider to determine if you are at high risk for lung cancer and if you are eligible for screening.
Women should get a mammogram (x-ray of the breast) every 2 years, or choose to get one every year. Talk to your health care provider about how often to get a mammogram.
If you are at higher risk of breast cancer, breast exams may be done by your health care provider. However, all women should be aware of how their breasts normally look and feel. You can perform self-exams and you should report any changes to your health care provider.
Learn more about self-exams- No testing is needed if you have had regular cervical cancer testing with normal results during the previous 10 years
- People with a history of a serious cervical precancer should continue testing for 25 years after that diagnosis
- No testing is needed if the cervix was removed for reasons unrelated to cancer or pre-cancer
It is important to talk with your doctor about the risks, benefits, and uncertainties of testing for prostate cancer. It is still unclear whether the benefits of prostate cancer screening outweigh the risk for most men. The ACS recommendation for men aged 50 and older who are at average risk is to be screened if they are expected to live at least 10 more years.
Older age is a risk factor for cancer
Four out of 10 Americans will have cancer sometime during their lifetime. Half of all cancer cases occur in people 66 years and older.
Know your body and keep track of any changes
If you notice any of these changes in your body, report them to your doctor right away. These may be potential signs or symptoms of cancer, and may require additional testing separate from routine screening.
Actions to take now
Finding a primary care doctor
If you have health insurance, go to your insurance company’s web site and use the physician-finder tool. Or call your insurance company and ask for recommendations.
If you don’t have health insurance, visit Healthcare.gov and search for a local community health care center.
If you don’t have a primary care doctor, you are not alone. A 2015 study found that around 1 in 4 Americans did not have a regular doctor for primary care.
You can set up screenings without a primary care doctor
Take a look at How to get screened for cancer if you don’t have a doctor, from the American Cancer Society for more resources.
If you are covered by Medicare, visit Medicare Coverage for Cancer Prevention and Early Detection from the American Cancer Society to learn more.
How to encourage a loved one to get screened
We all may have this person in our lives—the cousin who finally quit smoking but hasn’t been screened for lung cancer. The friend who refuses to see doctors for any reason but has a history of breast cancer in her family. The family member who got sunburned every summer but won’t have his moles looked at.
Some ways you can encourage, support, and inform them include:
- Ask them if they’ve considered getting screened
- Find out (nicely) why they haven’t been screened
- Make sure they know you care about them, and that’s why you’re asking them about screening
- Connect them with someone who recently was screened
- Tell them about your own screening experience
- Make a plan to celebrate after they get screened
- Check in with them after screening for their results
Example questions to ask your doctor about screening may include:
- What cancer screening tests are recommended for someone my age?
- Can you order all of the screening tests?
- Do I need to see another doctor for any of these recommended screening tests?
- Which of the screening tests should I get first?
- Do I have to get screened right away?
- If I canceled a screening appointment, when should I reschedule?
- Is it a problem if I missed my regular screening test?
- What are the risks of getting screened for cancer?
- Are there screening tests that I can do at home?
What cancer screening tests are recommended for someone my age?
Can you order all of the screening tests?
Do I need to see another doctor for any of these recommended screening tests?
Which of the screening tests should I get first?
Do I have to get screened right away?
If I canceled a screening appointment, when should I reschedule?
Is it a problem if I missed my regular screening test?
What are the risks of getting screened for cancer?
Are there screening tests that I can do at home?
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