Cancer Screening Guidelines

Breast Cancer

All women over age 16 should learn to perform breast self-examination.

Ages 25 - 35:

  High Risk Women (for example, those with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations)
    •  Annual Mammogram
    •  Regular Breast Self-Examination
    •  Clinical Breast Examination by a health professional

Age 30:

  (with no family history of pre-menopausal Breast Cancer)
    •  Periodical Clinical Breast Exam by a health professional

Age 40 and over:

    •  Clinical Breast Exam by health professional AND Screening Mammogram annually

Cervix Cancer

All women who are or have been sexually active:

    •  Annual Pap Test

If a woman has had a hysterectomy, the need for an Annual Pap Test should be determined by your health professional.

Colorectal Cancer

For people with no known risk factors:

Age 40

    •  Annual Digital Rectal Exam

Age 50

    •  Annual Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)
        PLUS
    •  Flexible Sigmoidoscopy every 5 years or Colonoscopy every 10 years

High Risk Individuals are those with:

Family history of hereditary syndromes associated with a high incidence of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal Cancer in your mother, father, sister or brother. (Also if your grandparents, uncle or aunt have colorectal cancer, you are at a somewhat higher risk.)

Family history of colorectal polyps and other hereditary colorectal disease, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease, etc.

Personal history of colorectal adenomas or colorectal cancer

For these high-risk individuals, screening should begin 10 years earlier than the family member's diagnosis.

      •  Annual Fecal Occult Blood Test
      •  Colonoscopy every 5 years or sooner as recommended
      •  Double Contrast Barium Enema recommended for those who cannot tolerate colonoscopy

African-Americans are at a higher risk than non-Hispanic whites and should begin screening at ages 40 to 45.

Prostate Cancer

Ages 40 - 50:

    •  All men should be made aware of the potential benefits of prostate cancer screening with Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and Digital Rectal Exam (DRE).

Age 40 - 45 (High Risk):

  (with a family history of Prostate Cancer and all African-Americans)
    •  Annual Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Blood Test
        PLUS
    •  Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)

Age 50 and over:

  All men should have
    •  Annual Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Blood Test
        PLUS
    •  Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)

Skin Cancer

Regular skin self-examinations (all skin surfaces) should begin as a teenager.

Regular skin examinations from a health professional should be a part of your regular medical checkup. Any change in size, shape, or color of any spot on your body should be called to the attention of your health professional as soon as possible.

There are no standard screening programs for the following cancers; however, individuals should be aware of the following risk factors.

Lung Cancer

High-risk individuals include:

    •  Those who smoke or chew tobacco products.
    •  Those who are exposed to secondhand smoke
    •  Workers exposed to asbestos

Ovarian Cancer

All women should have an annual pelvic exam by a health professional. High-risk women (with a family history of ovarian and/or breast cancer) may require more intensive examination, including ultrasound and possibly a blood test (CA-125).

Oral Cavity Cancer

All individuals should have an examination of the mouth by a healt
h professional (including your dentist). Any persistent sores or white spots should be called to the attention of your health professional.

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