For Women

Breast Cancer Screening

The American Cancer Society recommends that:

• Women age 20-39 should have a clinical breast exam performed by a health care professional every three years. Monthly breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20's
• Women age 40 and older should have an annual clinical breast exam by a health care professional and an annual mammogram.
• Discuss with your doctor your personal risk factors. Women at higher risk may need more frequent screening.

Cervical Cancer Screening

• The schedule for cervical cancer screening now varies depending on a woman's age, when a woman begins having intercourse, the type of Pap test used (regular or liquid-based), her immune system health, if she has had consecutive normal Pap test results and whether or not she has had a hysterectomy. Consult your doctor to determine your cervical cancer screening needs.

For Men

Prostate Cancer Screening

• Men age 50 and older should talk with their health care professional about having a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a digital rectal exam of the prostate gland every year. Factors to consider include overall health and life expectancy.
• Men who are at high risk for getting prostate cancer (African Americans or men who have a history of prostate cancer in close family members) should consider beginning these tests at a younger age.

For Men and Women

The American Cancer Society's Screening Recommendations
Adults age 50 and older

Tests That Detect Adenomatous Polyps and Cancer

• Flexible sigmoidoscopy (FSIG) every 5 years, or
• Colonoscopy every 10 years, or
  
• Double contrast barium enema (DCBE) every 5 years, or
  
• CT colonography (CTC) every 5 years

• Annual fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) with high test sensitivity for cancer, or
  
• Annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT) with high test sensitivity for cancer, or
  
• Stool DNA test (sDNA), with high test sensitivity for cancer, interval uncertain