This "well exam" is a chance to identify any risk factors that may lead to cancer or other chronic diseases. Discuss what you can do to prevent cancer with your health care provider.
All women should have a breast exam every 2-3 years by a doctor or health care provider.
All women should begin cervical cancer screening about 3 years after they begin having vaginal intercourse. All women over age 21 should have regular cervical cancer screening, as well. Screening should be done every year with the regular Pap test or every 2 years using the new liquid based Pap test.
For women over age 30, who have had 3 or more normal Pap tests in a row and no abnormal Pap tests results in the last 10 years, may be tested every 2-3 years with conventional or liquid based Pap test.
This "well exam" is a chance to learn your risk factors that may lead to cancer or other chronic diseases. Discuss your risk factors and what you can do to prevent cancer with your doctor.
There are three national groups that make recommendations about how often screening tests (tests for people having no symptoms) should be done. These groups are the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, and the United States Preventative Services Task Force. Sometimes these three groups vary slightly in their recommendations. All three groups’ recommendations are given in instances where they vary.
All women should begin cervical cancer screening about 3 years after they begin having vaginal intercourse. All women over age 21 should have regular cervical cancer screening, as well. Screening should be done every year with the regular Pap test or every 2 years using the new liquid based Pap test.
For women over age 30, who have had 3 or more normal Pap tests in a row and no abnormal Pap tests results in the last 10 years, may choose to be tested every 2-3 years with conventional or liquid based Pap test.
Testing for prostate cancer is controversial. There are three types of tests available. Each test can produce false results. This can lead to unnecessary treatments which could be harmful. Research is being done to learn the best way to screen for prostate cancer. Talk with your doctor about what is best for you.
Men at high risk should begin testing at age 45.
High risk men are:
Both the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal examination (DRE) should be offered every year, starting at age 50. With strong family history, the tests should be offered earlier. Men who have at least a 10-year life expectancy should be offered the tests as well.
Information should be provided to all men about what is known about the pros and cons of early detection and treatment of prostate cancer. These facts can assist men to make an informed decision about screening.
There is not enough evidence to conclude if screening for prostate cancer with PSA or digital rectal exam reduces death from prostate cancer. Screening tests are able to detect prostate cancer at an early stage, but it is not clear if this earlier detection and earlier treatment leads to any change in the outcome of the disease.
The US Preventative Services Task Force does not recommend routine screening with digital rectal exam, PSA blood test or transrectal ultrasound. Patients who request testing should be given information about the possible benefits and harms of early detection and treatment. The man should then discuss these issues with his doctor.
This "well exam" is a chance to learn of any risk factors that may lead to cancer or other chronic diseases. Talk to your doctor about what you can do to prevent cancer.
There are three national groups that make recommendations about how often screening tests (tests for people having no symptoms) should be done. These groups are the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, and the United States Preventative Services Task Force. Sometimes these three groups vary slightly in their recommendations. All three groups’ recommendations are given in instances where they vary. Talk with your doctor about how often you should have testing done.
Beginning at age 50, men and women should have one of these tests:
The National Cancer Institute supports screening for colorectal cancer. There are five exams that can detect colorectal cancer. People should talk with their health care provider about when to begin screening for colorectal cancer, what tests to have, the benefits and risks of each test, and how often to schedule appointments.
The USPSTF strongly recommends that men and women 50 years or older be screened for colorectal cancer. The USPSTF found good evidence that periodic fecal occult blood testing reduces death from colorectal cancer. It found fair evidence that sigmoidoscopy alone or in combination with fecal occult blood testing reduces death of colorectal cancer.
Screening by mammogram, clinical breast examination, or both may decrease breast cancer deaths. The benefit is not certain due to the variable quality of the evidence and lack of consistent results across studies.
Routine screening for breast cancer every one to two years, with mammogram alone or mammogram and annual examination by a health professional is recommended for women ages 50-69.
All women should begin cervical cancer screening about 3 years after they begin having vaginal intercourse. All women over age 21 should have regular cervical cancer screening, as well. Screening should be done every year with the regular Pap test or every 2 years using the new liquid based Pap test.
For women over age 30, who have had 3 or more normal Pap tests in a row and no abnormal Pap tests results in the last 10 years, may be tested every 2–3 years with conventional or liquid based Pap test.
Testing for prostate cancer is controversial. Three types of tests are available, each one of which can produce false results. This can lead to unnecessary treatments which could be harmful. Research is being done to learn the best way of screening for prostate cancer. Talk with your doctor about what is best for you.
Both the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal exam (DRE) should be offered every year, starting at age 50. With strong family history, the tests should be offered earlier. Men who have at least a 10–year life expectancy should be offered the tests as well.
Information should be provided to all men about what is known about the pros and cons of early detection and treatment of prostate cancer. These facts can assist men to make an informed decision about screening.
There is insufficient evidence to conclude if screening for prostate cancer with PSA or digital rectal exam reduces death from prostate cancer. Screening tests are able to detect prostate cancer at an early stage, but it is not clear if this earlier detection and earlier treatment leads to any change in the outcome of the disease.
The US Preventative Services Task Force does not recommend routine screening with digital rectal exam, PSA blood test or transrectal ultrasound. Patients who request testing should be given information about the possible benefits and harms of early detection and treatment. The patient should then discuss these issues with his doctor.
It is never too late to work at preventing cancer. Even after age 65, a healthy lifestyle will help improve your overall health and reduce your risk of developing cancer.
The "well exam" is a chance to learn risk factors that may lead to cancer or other chronic diseases. Discuss what you can do to prevent and detect cancer early with your health care provider.
There are three national groups that make recommendations about how often screening tests (tests for people having no symptoms) should be done. These groups are the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute and the United States Preventative Services Task Force. Sometimes these three groups vary slightly in their recommendations. All three groups’ recommendations are given in instances where they vary. Talk with your doctor about how often you should have testing done.
Beginning at age 50, men and women should follow one of these tests:
The National Cancer Institute supports screening for colorectal cancer. There are five exams that can detect colorectal cancer. People should talk with their health care provider about when to begin screening for colorectal cancer, what tests to have, the benefits and risks of each test, and how often to schedule appointments.
The USPSTF strongly recommends that men and women 50 years or older be screened for colorectal cancer. The USPSTF found good evidence that periodic fecal occult blood testing reduces death from colorectal cancer. It found fair evidence that sigmoidoscopy alone or in combination with fecal occult blood testing reduces death of colorectal cancer.
Screening by mammography and clinical breast exams in women 40-70 decreases breast cancer mortality. The benefit is higher for older women, in part, because breast cancer risk is higher in older women.
Routine screening for breast cancer every one to two years, with mammography alone or mammography and annual examination by a health professional is recommended for women up to age 70, should their life expectancy not be compromised by other disease.
Women 70 years and older who have had three or more normal Pap test results and no abnormal results in the last 10 years may choose to stop cervical cancer screening.
Testing for prostate cancer is controversial. Three types of tests are available. Each test can produce false results. This can lead to unnecessary treatments that could be harmful. Research is being done to learn the best way of screening for prostate cancer. Talk with your doctor about what is best for you.
Both the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal exam (DRE) should be offered every year, starting at age 50. Men who have at least a 10-year life expectancy should be offered the tests, as well.
Information should be provided to all men about what is known about the pros and cons of early detection and treatment of prostate cancer. These facts can help men make informed decisions about screening.
There is insufficient evidence to conclude if screening for prostate cancer with PSA or digital rectal exam reduces death from prostate cancer. Screening tests are able to detect prostate cancer at an early stage, but it is not clear if this earlier detection and earlier treatment leads to any change in the outcome of the disease.
The US Preventative Services Task Force does not recommend routine screening with digital rectal exam, PSA blood test, or transrectal ultrasound. Patients who request testing should be given information about the possible benefits and harms of early detection and treatment. The patient should then discuss these issues with his doctor.