Cancer Institute

Cancer prevention & screening

Save Lives with cancer prevention and screenings

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) nearly one third of cancer deaths are caused by preventable factors:

tobacco
prolonged exposure to the sun
excessive alcohol consumption, for example.

If all Americans participated in regular cancer screenings, the five-year survival rate for these cancers would jump from 80 percent to 95 percent.

Here is a summary of ACS recommendations for the early detection of cancer in asymptomatic people:

Site	Recommendation
Cancer-related	A cancer-related checkup is recommended every three years for people aged 20 - 40 and yearly for people age 40 and older. This exam should include health counseling and depending on a person's age, might include examinations for cancers of the thyroid, oral cavity, skin, lymph nodes, testes and ovaries, as well as for some nonmalignant diseases.
Breast	Women 40 and older should have an annual mammogram, an annual clinical breast exam performed by a healthcare professional and should perform monthly breast self-examination. The exam should be conducted close to the scheduled mammogram. Women ages 20 - 39 should have a clinical breast exam performed by a healthcare professional every three years and should perform monthly breast self-examination.
Colon/ Rectum	Men and women aged 50 or older should follow one of the examination schedules below: A fecal occult blood test yearly and a flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years.^* A colonoscopy every 10 years.^* A double-contrast barium enema every five to 10 years.^*
Prostate	The ACS recommends that both the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and the digital rectal examination be offered annually, beginning at age 50, to men who have a life expectancy of at least 10 years and to younger men who are at high risk. Men in high-risk groups, such as those with a strong familial predisposition (e.g., two or more affected first-degree relatives), or African Americans may begin at a younger age (e.g., 40 years).
Uterus/ Cervix	All women who are or have been sexually active or who are 18 and older should have an annual Pap test and pelvic examination. After three or more consecutive examinations with normal findings, the Pap test may be performed less frequently. Discuss the matter with your physician.
Endometrium	Women at high risk for cancer of the uterus should have a sample of endometrial tissue examined when menopause begins.

^*A digital rectal exam should be done at the same time as sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy or double-contrast barium enema. People who are at moderate or high risk for colorectal cancer should talk with a doctor about a different testing schedule.