Age-Range Screening Recommendations

Women

A skin exam should be part of your annual checkup, and you should regularly self-monitor all moles on your skin and report any changes to your physician. The National Breast Cancer Foundation recommends that all adult women do a monthly breast self-exam.

Ages 21-29

• Clinical breast exam every one to three years to check for breast cancer
• Pap test every three years to check for cervical cancer

Ages 30-39

• Clinical breast exam every one to three years to check for breast cancer
• Pap test and HPV test every five years to check for cervical cancer and HPV

Ages 40-49

• Mammogram and clinical breast exam every year to check for breast cancer
• Pap test and HPV test every five years to check for cervical cancer and HPV

Ages 50 and older

• Mammogram and clinical breast exam every year to check for breast cancer
• Pap test and HPV tests every five years to check for cervical cancer and HPV Beginning at age 65, talk to your doctor about whether you should discontinue screening.
• Colonoscopy every 10 years or virtual colonoscopy every five years to check for colorectal cancer. From age 76 on, consult with your doctor on whether you should continue these screenings.
• At ages 55-80, women who are, or were, heavy smokers should talk to their doctor about whether they should have a low-dose CT scan to screen for lung cancer.

Men

A skin exam should be part of your annual checkup, and you should regularly self-monitor all moles on your skin and report any changes to your physician. Men are less likely than women to do preventive care visits and may need reminders.

Ages 15-34

• Younger men should be particularly diligent about doing monthly testicular exams. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men 15-34 years old.

Ages 40-49

• If you are African-American or have a family history of prostate cancer, discuss starting prostate cancer screenings with your doctor. If you choose to be screened, get a digital rectal exam and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.
• If you have a family history of colon or rectal cancer, talk to your doctor about beginning these screenings earlier than those with an average risk.

Ages 50 and older

• For prostate cancer screenings, get a digital rectal exam and PSA test annually if your PSA level is 2.5 ng/mL or higher, or every two years if it is lower.
• Beginning at age 50, have a colonoscopy every 10 years or a virtual colonoscopy every five years to check for colorectal cancer. From age 76 on, consult with your doctor about whether you should continue these screenings.
• At ages 55-80, men who are, or were, heavy smokers should talk to their doctor about whether they should have a low-dose CT scan to screen for lung cancer.