1. The goal of cancer screening is to detect cancer in its early stages when it’s most treatable.
2. Different stages of life bring different risks for cancer. The 4 common cancers in women that you should consider screening for are: Breast, Cervical, Colon, and Lung cancer.
3. Cervical cancer screening starts at age 21 with a Pap smear every 3 years.
4. At age 30, HPV (human papilloma virus) test can be added to the Pap smear, extending screening intervals to every 5 years.
5. Breast cancer screening with mammograms is recommended starting at age 40, performed every two years until age 75.
6. Colon cancer screening begins at age 45, with colonoscopy as the most accurate test, recommended every 10 years.
7. Other ways to screen for colon cancer are to perform special stool tests looking for hidden blood cells and abnormal DNA.
8. Lung cancer screening is advised at age 50 for individuals with a history of smoking with 20 or more pack years. Screening is performed using a low-dose CT scans every year till the age of 80 years.
9. Abnormal screening results do not always indicate it is cancer. It may require further testing and investigation.
Talk to you doctor to develop you own personalized cancer screening plan.