Health & Wellness Articles

This information is provided for your educational use.  It is not intended to replace recommendations made by your health care provider.

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New Cancer Screening Guidelines

03/02/06

• Women in their 20s and 30s should get a clinical breast exam every three years.
• Women age 40 and older should get a clinical breast exam every year.
• Annual mammogram starting at age 40.
• Breast self-exams are optional.
• Report any breast changes promptly to a doctor.

• Yearly fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT),
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years,
• Yearly FOBT or FIT plus flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years,
• Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years, or
• Colonoscopy every 10 years.

• Women should get annual Pap tests starting about three years after first vaginal intercourse or by age 21. 
• Beginning at age 30, women who have had three normal Pap tests in a row may get screened every 2 to 3 years.
• Women 70 years of age and older who have had three normal Pap test in a row and no abnormal Pap tests for a decade may stop having the screening.

• Beginning at age 50, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal exam (DRE) should be offered men annually who have a life expectancy of at least 10 more years
• Doctors and patients should discuss the benefits and limitations of the PSA test.