Cover Your Bases
Step up to the plate and schedule your screenings today. Not sure where to start?
Cancer screenings can find cancer early, before it spreads and when it’s easiest to treat. Some screenings, including colorectal cancer and cervical cancer screening, can catch cancer before it begins by finding precancerous lesions that can be removed.
That's why the Cancer Support Community is bringing Prevention at the Park* events to baseball parks this season. At these events, we are raising awareness and sharing information about screening protocols for different types of cancer, including breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung.
*Made possible through generous support from Merck
Common Questions About Cancer Screening
It can be confusing to know which cancer screenings you should get, and when, since everyone’s screening needs are unique. This FAQ unpacks the basics to help you have an informed conversation with your doctor about your personal screening needs:
Who sets cancer screening recommendations?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) provides guidance on when you should start getting screened, and how often, for different types of cancer. Your unique screening needs will be based on various factors, including:
- your personal or family health history
- history of tobacco and alcohol use
- diet
- inherited genetic mutations
- exposure to chemicals or other substances
How do I get a cancer screening?
Talk with your healthcare team to find out what’s right for you based on your individual risk factors and medical history. Then they can work with you to schedule any screening tests you need. If you don’t have a doctor, contact your local health department or hospital to ask if there are community screening events. You can also ask to speak to one of the hospital’s social workers, who may be able to provide guidance.
Which routine screening tests are available?
Many types of cancer do not currently have screening tests. At this time, early screening tests exist for only 5 cancers: breast, colorectal, cervical, lung, and prostate cancer. But not everyone should get all these screening tests.
Share the following list with your doctor and discuss which screening tests are best for you, based on USPSTF recommendations:
- Mammography for Breast Cancer
- Pap Smear for Cervical Cancer
- Screening for Colorectal Cancer
- Low-dose Computed Tomography (CT) for Lung Cancer
- Prostate-specific Antigen Test (PSA) for Prostate Cancer
For women ages 40 to 74 years old, biennial screening mammography is recommended.
For women ages 21 to 29, cervical cytology screening (also called the Pap smear, or Pap test) is recommended every 3 years. For women ages 30 to 65, the USPSTF recommends screening:
- Every 3 years with the Pap test alone
- Every 5 years with high-risk HPV (hrHPV) testing alone, or
- Every 5 years with hrHPV testing in combination with the Pap test
It's recommended that adults at average risk for colorectal cancer begin screening at age 45 to catch colorectal cancer early, when it is small, hasn’t spread, and might be easier to treat.
Note: The USPSTF considers these tests to be acceptable screening methods for colorectal cancer (National Cancer Institute):
- Stool tests
- Sigmoidoscopy
- Colonoscopy
Lung cancer screening in the form of low-dose CT scans is recommended annually for adults ages 50 to 80 years old who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.
For men ages 55 to 69, the USPSTF notes that the decision to get PSA-based screening for prostate cancer should be an individual one, based on a discussion with your doctor about the potential benefits and harms of screening.
Is skin cancer screening recommended?
The USPSTF has not found enough evidence to recommend skin cancer screening for people who don’t have signs or symptoms of skin cancer. So, it’s best to talk to your doctor about your individual risk factors and whether you should get skin cancer screening.
One thing you can do is monthly skin checks at home. Check all the surfaces of your skin and look closely at your moles. Look for any changes in shape, size, or color. Talk to your doctor if you notice anything new or unusual looking on your skin or have a sore or patch of skin that won’t heal.
Is there one test to check for all cancers?
New and emerging screening methods, called multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests, are underway. One new test uses a person’s blood sample to check for more than 50 cancers. The hope is that these new tests can help detect cancer at earlier stages.
Contact Our Helpline
Our Cancer Support Helpline is here to answer any questions you may have. We offer free navigation for cancer patients and their loved ones by phone and online.