Cancer Screening Guidelines

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. (after heart disease). When you know the risks, implement prevention measures, and take advantage of your cancer screening options, you have taken three big steps toward conquering both your fear of the disease and the disease itself.

Be good to yourself; make an appointment to see your physician for the appropriate screening. After you reward yourself, spread the word to your loved ones. Make certain that they also make the right decision to see their healthcare provider for early examinations too!

Test or Procedure	Who	Age	Frequency
Health Counseling & Cancer Check-up	Men/Women Men/Women	20 – 40 Over 40	Every 3 years Every year
Digital Rectal Exam	Men/Women	Over 40	Every year
Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test	Men	40 & over for African Americans and men with family history of prostate cancer, 50 & over for all other men	Every year
Stool Fecal Occult Blood Test	Men/Women	Over 50	Every year
Colonoscopy	Men/Women	45 and over	Every 3 – 5 years (Sigmoidoscopy) or every 10 years (Colonoscopy)
Pap Test-Pelvic Exam	Women	All women who are, or who have been, sexually active, or who have reached age 18. After 3 or more consecutive annual exams, the test may be performed less frequently	Annually, or at Discretion of Physicians
Breast Self-Exam	Women	20 and over	Every month
Breast Physical Exam	Women	20 and over Over 40	Every 3 years
Mammogram (breast x-ray)	Women	40 and over	Every year