Cancer Screenings

Frequency of Cancer Screenings

• Skin exam (ages 18+): every 3 years
• Rectal exam (ages 18+): annually over age 40

• Stool Check for Blood (Stool Occult Blood) (Ages 45+): Recommendations are:

  • Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) or guaiac-cased fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) to be completed annually,
  • Or, multi-targeted stool DNA test with fecal immunochemical testing (MT-sDNA or sDNA-FIT or FIT-DNA) to be completed every 3 years for average-risk individuals
• Colorectal Screening (ages 45+): Testing recommendations are:
  • Colonoscopy every 10 years
  • CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years,
  • Or, sigmoidoscopy every 5 years for those of average risk
• Pap and Pelvic Exam (ages 25-65): every 3 years for a person with average risk
• Clinical Breast Exam (ages 18+): annually over age 18
• Mammogram (ages 40+): The baseline should occur between 40 and 44 years for those of average risk and then be completed annually until age 55 and older when mammograms can be completed every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammograms. Screenings should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more years.
• Prostate Exam (ages 50+): annually
• PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) Lab Test (ages 50+): Testing recommended:
  • Every 2 years for those with a PSA of less than 2.5 ng/mL
  • Annually for those with a PSA level of 2.5 ng/mL or higher

*Your doctor may recommend different screening guidelines based on your risk factors.