Early Detection
Regular Screenings by a health care professional can result in the detection of cancers of the breast, colon, rectum, cervix, prostate, testis, oral cavity, and skin at earlier stages, when treatment is more likely to be successful. (ACS)
Self-examinations for cancers of the breast and skin may result in early detection of tumors. (ACS)
The screening-accessible cancers (breast, colon, rectum, cervix, prostate, testis, oral cavity, and skin) account for about half of all new cancer cases. The 5-year relative survival rate for these cancers is about 81%. If all of these cancers were diagnosed early through regular cancer screenings, this rate would increase to 95%. (ACS)
Cancer related Checkups
A Cancer related Checkup is recommended every 3 years for people aged 20-40 and every year for people age 40 and older. This exam should include health counseling and might (according to age) include exams for cancers of the thyroid, oral cavity, skin, lymph nodes, testes, and ovaries.
Breast Cancer Screenings
Women age 20-39 should have a clinical breast exam by a health care professional every 3 years and should perform monthly breast self examination. We support teaching self exams in high school.
Women age 40 and older should have an annual mammogram, an annual clinical exam, and should perform monthly breast self examination.
Colon Cancer Screenings
Beginning at age 50, men and women at average risk should follow one of these examination schedules:
- Fecal occult blood test every year, or
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or
- Fecal occult blood test every year and flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years,(br> ( of these three options, the ACS prefers option 3) or
- Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years, or
- Colonoscopy every 10 years.
*A digital rectal exam should be done at the same time as the sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, or double-contrast barium enema. People who are at an increased or high risk for colorectal cancer should talk with a doctor about a different test schedule.
- Colonoscopy examination every 3-5 years beginning at age 40 ( age 35 if you have a family history of colon cancer).
- Polyps found in the colon can turn cancerous in 5 years. When they are found during a colonoscopy exam, they can be removed on the spot long before ever becoming cancerous.
Prostate Cancer Screenings
Beginning at age 50, the prostate-specific antigen test and the digital rectal exam should be offered annually. Men at high risk should begin testing at age 45.
- Annual digital examination by a medical professional annually beginning at age forty.
- Annual PSA blood test screening beginning at age forty. Be sure to insist that your doctor get a PSA Doubling Time test as well.
Testicular Cancer Screening
Monthly testicular self-exams should be done to detect testicular cancer early. Ask your doctor for information.
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